Feb. 12, 2007

ST. GEORGE, Utah - Devin Daniels fired a three-under par 70 to lead Utah State's golf team on the first day of the two-day, two-round Southern Utah Pat Hicks Invitational here Monday. The Aggies are tied for 10th place heading into the final round of the 18-team tournament.

The tournament is the first of the Spring for the Aggies, who have not played since October. Daniels, a sophomore from Smithfield, Utah, recorded his second-best round of the year coming off the winter layoff.

Teammate Preston Otte shot a two-under par 71 and is tied for 21st. USU also counted a 73 from Brandon Broadhead and a 78 from Jake Blair in the best four of five scoring.

Host Southern Utah leads the event after shooting a team score of 282. Denver is second at 286, while USU is tied for 10th at 292. Four players share the individual lead after shooting six-under par 67s.

TEAM STANDINGS (18 teams)
1. Southern Utah 282
2. Denver 	286
3. Washington State	287
3. Dixie State	287
3. San Francisco	287
3. Oral Roberts	287
Others
10. Utah State	292

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS
1. Bryce Hanstad, Colorado State	67
1. Nic Van Vuuren, Utah Valley State	67
1. Duncan Stewart, Jacksonville	67
1. Donald Zaruba, Grand Canyon	67

UTAH STATE INDIVIDUALS
T9. Devin Daniels	70
T21.Preston Otte	71
T42. Brandon Broadhead	73
T83. Jake Blair	78
101. Jeremy Pack	87
(Individuals not part of team)
T102. Tyler Munson	83
112. Alex Putnam	87