MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Todd Duncan and Pierce Grieve earned victories while Kaleb Wilson secured a tie to lead the West Virginia University golf team to a 2-2-1 tie against No. 3-seeded and No. 24-ranked Utah in the first round of the Big 12 Match Play Championship at The Clubs at Houston Oaks in Hockley, Texas, on Monday.
 
Duncan recorded a 3&2 victory over Braxton Watts, while Grieve notched a 1UP win over Davis Johnson. Kaleb Wilson, who was down two holes early, came back to tie Brandon Robison. Ryan Leach fell to Sergio Jimenez, 5&3, while Max Green was defeated by Gabriel Palacios, 6&5.
 
In the afternoon session, WVU fell to BYU, 4-1-0. Wilson recorded WVU's victory with a 3&1 decision over Angus Klintworth.

"It was a great comeback this morning to earn a tie versus a Top 25 ranked Utah team," coach Sean Covich said. "We didn't lead any of the five matches with less than nine holes to play and managed a tie against a really good team. This afternoon, we had a chance to close out the win but just didn't go our way. We played a lot of good golf but just didn't go our way in the end versus BYU. We need to keep our heads up and bounce back tomorrow versus Houston."
 
WVU will now square off against Houston in the morning session on Tuesday, followed by an additional Big 12 opponent Tuesday afternoon. The placing round will take place Wednesday morning.
 
 
At the Red Flash Invitational in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, freshman Nick Turowski sits in third place at 1-under-par after 18 holes. Hugh Donegan shot 4-over-par and Westy McCabe was 8-over-par. All three Mountaineers are competing as individuals and will wrap up play on Tuesday.
 
No. 14 West Virginia tied No. 3 Utah, 2-2-1
Sergio Jimenez (Utah) def. Ryan Leach (WVU), 5&3
Pierce Grieve (WVU) def. Davis Johnson (Utah), 1UP
Kaleb Wilson (WVU) tied Brandon Robison (Utah)
Gabriel Palacios (Utah) def. Max Green (WVU), 6&5
Todd Duncan (WVU) def. Braxton Watts (Utah), 3&2

No. 6 BYU defeated No. 14 West Virginia, 4-1-0
Tyson Shelley (BYU) def. Pierce Grieve (WVU), 7&5
Cole Ponich (BYU) def. Max Green (WVU), 3&1
Simon Kwon (BYU) def. Todd Duncan (WVU), 1UP
Kaleb Wilson (WVU) def. Angus Klintworth (BYU), 3&1
Peter Kim (BYU) def. Carson Kammann (WVU), 4&3