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The University of Utah athletic department is enjoying by far its best school year of Pac-12 competition since joining the conference in 2011. The Utes' surprising success is continuing this spring, with the baseball team tied for first place and the softball team standing second.  Now, the Utes just need everyone to ignore the upcoming Pac-12 men's golf tournament. That will be difficult, considering the event will be staged at The Country Club of Salt Lake City, Friday through Sunday. Admission is free, and this is an opportunity for fans to watch three of the 10 semifinalists for college golf's Ben Hogan Award: Stanford's Maverick McNealy, Oregon's Aaron Wise and Arizona State's Jon Rahm.  Two-time defending champion Stanford, USC, Oregon and California will be among the favorites for the team title. Utah would do well to finish 11th, after placing a distant 12th last year.  The competition consists of 36 holes Friday, 18 holes Saturday and 18 holes Sunday. The format counts five of each team's six scores in each round, so depth and talent are both rewarded. Utah coach Randall McCracken, who is stepping down after 12 years on the job, has pointed to this tournament throughout the fall and spring seasons, entering the Utes in events at mostly high-elevation venues to help them prepare for the home-course opportunity.  – Kurt Kragthorpe