Perhaps John Taylor, the non-playing Utah team captain, summed up his squad's plight the best on Thursday with this comment: "We get to throw out one score each day in this event. I wish we could throw out one day."
Indeed, Utah might be holding the USGA Men's State Team Championship trophy if it wasn't for a rough second round on Wednesday. Utah, which posted an even-par 142 in the first round on Tuesday, struggled to a 15-over 157 on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Utah regained its form with a 3-under 139 score, thanks to a 2-under-par 69 from Dan Horner and a 70 by Kirk Siddens.
"One poor round," said Horner shaking his head near the scoring tent adjacent to the 18th green.
Horner, who played collegiately at Rutgers University, produced five birdies in his round, four coming on the more-challenging outward nine. He made a nice up-and-down birdie on 18 to close the round, making a 10-footer.
Horner will have a chance to continue his good play in nine days when he tees it up at the U.S. Mid-Amateur at Atlantic Golf Club in Bridgehampton, N.Y. -- David Shefter