#4 Arkansas Wins All-American Intercollegiate
HUMBLE, Texas – Four Razorbacks finished among the top 11 – including runner-up Erich Fortlage – and #4 Arkansas fired a 3-under-par 285 on Tuesday to win the All-American Intercollegiate by 12 strokes.
This was the third team win for Arkansas this season, its most since winning seven in 2011-12. Arkansas had finished among the top four in all seven events this season.
The team tournament was played on the par-72 Tournament Course at the Golf Club of Houston. Also, the All-American Individual was contested at the Golf Club of Houston’s Member Course and Razorback junior Niilo Maki-Petaja finished runner up.
Erich Fortlage and John Daly II led the Hogs in the final round, two of the few to break par over in any round over the 54 holes.
Fortlage fired the low round of the day, a 45-under 67 and moved up 11 spots to finish runner-up, his fifth top-10 finish of the year. Overall, the sophomore had rounds of 72-80-67 to post a 3-over 219 for 54 holes. In the final round, he birdied his second hole – the par-5, 4th – then fell back to even with a bogey on hole 6. From that point, Fortlage had birdies on 5 of his next 8 holes before reeling off six pars to close his round.
Daly shot a 1-under 70 on Tuesday and moved up one spot to tie for fourth for his third top-5 finish this season. The senior carded rounds of 78-72-72 for his 54-hole total of 221 (+5). On Tuesday, he opened with a birdie on hole one, had pars on his next 11 holes and birdied hole 13 to get to 2-under. He dropped a shot on his closing hole to shoot 71.
Thomas Curry tied for sixth (+5) for his third top 10 finish – and third straight. Cam Smith tied for 37th (+16).
Also being played on the property, on the Member’s Course, is a separate event, the All-American Individual. Razorback junior Niilo Maki-Petaja finished runner-up and one stroke off the lead. He turned in rounds of 72-74-72 for a 2-over 218. Willie Gordon tied for 15th (+21).
Arkansas returns to action in two weeks (Mar. 23-24) at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational (Floridian National Golf Club – Palm City, Fla.). The Valspar annually features one of the toughest fields in college golf.
ALL-AMERICAN INTERCOLLEGIATE
Host: Houston
TEAM: Golf Club of Houston – Tournament Course
Par: 72 • 7,422 yards
INDIVIDUAL: Golf Club of Houston – Member’s Course
Par: 72 • 7,508 yards
Humble, Texas
Format: 5 count 4 ||36 holes Monday / 18 Holes Tuesday
TEAM RESULTS
1 #4 Arkansas 298-299-285=882 / -3
2 Eastern Michigan 302-297-295=894 / +30
3 Tarleton State 305-296-298=899 / +35
4 Abilene Christian 315-301-290=906 / +42
5 Houston 313-315-285=913 / +49
T6 North Texas 311-304-299=914 / +50
T6 Nebraska 319-306-289=914 / +50
T6 #49 Rice 311-305-298=914 / +50
9 Texas State 313-311-291=915 / +51
10 UT Rio Grande Valley 315-305-298=918 / +54
11 Lamar 314-310-297=9121 / +57
12 Sam Houston 316-318-290=924 / +60
13 Louisiana-Monroe 311-311-305=927 / +63
14 UT Arlington 323-304-301=928 / +64
15 Odessa (TX) JC 323-314-300=937 / +73
16 Houston Christian 321-315-313=949 / +85
