Feb. 13, 2007

ST. GEORGE, Utah- Aaron Weston captured the individual title of the Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational after winning a playoff against Duncan Stewart of Jacksonville. At the 36-hole tournament hosted by Southern Utah, Weston carded a 71 and an eight-under 64 to lead him into the playoff. Led behind Weston, Colorado State earned fifth place at the par-72, 6,781-yard Sunbrook Golf Course.

Weston earned his first career tournament victory after carding a 71-64 to lead him into a tie for first place with Duncan Stewart at a two-round 135 tournament total. Stewart posted rounds of 67 and 68. The second round 64 is Colorado State's second lowest single round score. It is second only to a 63 Zen Brown carded at the Cougar Classic April 14-15, 2006. Weston joins Martin Laird and Nolan Martin as the only Ram golfers to card a 64. He is the first Ram to win a tournament since Derrick Whiting captured the individual title of the Rice Intercollegiate February 6-7, 2006. Weston earned first place out of 112 competing golfers.

Colorado State earned their fourth-straight top-five team finish, and their sixth-straight top-ten team finish at the tournament. The Rams recorded a first-round 297 and followed that up with a second-round 279 to earn them a two-round 576 total. Zen Brown earned his fifth top-ten finish of the year after recording dual rounds of 70 for a 140 tournament total which led him to a tie for ninth place.

Southern Utah captured the tournament title for the second-consecutive year. The Thunderbirds posted rounds of 282-280 for a 562 two-round tournament total. The University of Denver finished three-strokes behind them earning second place. The Pioneers recorded rounds of 286-279=565.

Bryce Hanstad, who played as an individual in the tournament, finished in seventh place. Hanstad shot rounds of 67-72 for a 139 two-round total. Sean McNamara, a recently added Ram, earned a tie for 61st after posting rounds of 80-70 for a 150 two-round total.

Dustin Morris recorded rounds of 78-72 for a 150 two-round total and a tie for 61st with teammate McNamara. Derrick Whiting carded rounds of 78-73, which earned him a 151 two-round total and a tie for 71st. Riley Arp achieved a tie for 85th after shooting rounds of 78-77 for a two-round 155 total.

The Rams will return to the green February 21-23 when they travel to the John A. Burns Intercollegiate.

5 Colorado State Univ. 297 279 576 ** 1 Aaron Weston 71 64 135 T 9 Zen Brown 70 70 140 T 61 Dustin Morris 78 72 150 T 71 Derrick Whiting 78 73 151 T 85 Riley Arp 78 77 155

Individuals 7 Bryce Hanstad Col. St. 67 72 139 T61 Sean McNamara Col. St. 80 70 150 +6 **Won playoff