Despite a bogey, bogey finish, Aggie golfer Enrique Karg was able to refocus and finish atop the leaderboard Sunday.
Utah State was playing in the postseason for just the second time in program history at the 2025 GOLFWEEK National Golf Invitational (NGI) Championship in Maricopa, Arizona. With Karg leading the way, the Aggies were able to finish second as a team, seven strokes behind champion Ohio State.
Karg carded a 3-under-par 69 during the final round Sunday at the 7,802-yard Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club. The back-to-back bogeys left the sophomore in a tie for first with Richmond’s Carson Baez. Karg and Baez went to the par-4 18th hole for a playoff. Karg pared the hole, while Baez had a bogey.
The Aggie was the medalist with a three-round total 12-under-par 204 (65-70-69). With the individual title, Karg will receive an exemption into the Southeastern Amateur played at the Country Club of Columbus in Columbus, Georgia, in late June.
“I am so happy for Enrique,” USU head coach Dean Johansen said in a press release. “It’s not very often that a player wins the playoff after finishing their final round bogey, bogey. That was big time. We are excited for Enrique to participate in the Southeastern Amateur next month. Him wearing the Utah State brand at that tournament is monumental for this program and I can’t speak highly enough about him and this team.”
it is Karg’s second career individual title as he tied for medalist honors at the 2024 Northern Colorado Invitational. He is just the 11th Aggie in program history to win a tournament and one of just five Aggies to win two or more titles joining Jay Don Blake (16), Todd Tanner (2), Tanner Higham (2) and Seokwon Jeon (2). It is the 30th time in program history that an Aggie has won at least a share of a tournament title.
Karg, who posted his sixth-career top 20 finish, carded six birdies and three bogeys during his final round. It is the second time this year and third time in his career he has posted an under-par finish. With his 3-under-par 69 on Sunday, he has now posted four rounds in the 60s this year and seven in his career. He also now has 13 rounds under par in his career, including eight this season.
Karg’s 12-under-par 204 this past weekend is his best-ever 54-hole score and best under-par finish. His 12-under par is also tied for the fifth-best 54-hole score in program history.
On Monday, Karg was named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week. This was the second time he has received this award.
As a team, USU shot a 2-under-par 286 in the final round to finish at 19-under-par for the tournament at 845. That is the second-best 54-hole score in program history, trailing only the 29-under-par 835 recorded at the 2023 Monterrey Collegiate Classic in Mexico.
The Aggies had the best round of any team in the first round Friday with a 277 and held the lead going into the second day. Ohio State was right behind and overtook USU in the second round. The Buckeyes won the team championship at 26-under-par 838.
“We had a chance to win this tournament, and that was awesome,” Johansen said. “We were in the running on the back nine on Sunday, which is all you can ask for in golf. We came into this tournament with a lot of confidence and played that way all weekend.”
Finishing behind Ohio State and USU in third was Oregon State at 857. Rhode Island was fourth (863), and West Virginia (864) came in fifth. There were 10 teams that competed. The Aggies were ranked seventh in the field going in.
Graduate John Cook finished the tournament tied for 12th at 1-under-par 215 (73-65-77). It is his fifth under-par finish this year and the seventh of his career. It is the fourth time this year and eighth time in his career he has notched a top 20 finish. Cook concludes his career with 11 rounds in the 60s, including four this season, and 24 rounds under par, including 10 this year.
Senior Julio Arronte tied for 17th at even par 216 (67-75-74) for his 13th career top 20 placing, including his seventh this season. With his opening round 67, Arronte concludes his career with 12 rounds in the 60s, including six this year, and 30 rounds under par, including 15 this season.
Senior Esteban Jaramillo tied for 28th at 3-over-par 219 (74-72-73). Freshman Toby Heider tied for 36th at 6-over-par 222 (72-80-70). With his final round 2-under 70. Heider now has two rounds under par this season.
“This is a special team,” Johansen said. “We have three seniors that delayed turning pro so they could come back and play in this tournament. The pride and care factor that trio has for this program has been unbelievable to witness.”
The last time USU played in a postseason tournament was in 1981, at the NCAA Tournament.
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