#5 Arkansas in 3rd After 36 Holes at Mountaineer Invitational
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The fifth-ranked Arkansas men’s golf program led after round 1 Monday morning with a 9-under-par 279, but was 3-over in the afternoon session and stands in third at -6 (570) after two rounds at the Mountaineer Invitational. Host West Virginia and #38 Clemson caught fire in the afternoon to stand 1-2, at -9 and -8, respectively.
The afternoon session was a roller coaster for the top three teams. The Hogs led by six after 18 holes. However, Arkansas was 1-over through the first nine holes of round two and led Clemson by one as the Tigers were 13-under through their first nine holes.
Then, Arkansas had six birdies on its first three holes to start the back nine, three by Gerardo Gomez, two by Thomas Curry and 1 by John Daly II, to open its lead to 7 (-14 to -7). Gomez vaulted into the lead with his three-straight birdies and Hogs were inside the top 10 (Gomez 1st, Daly 5th, Smith and Curry 10th).
After all was said and done on Monday, Gomez is third (-5), Curry is T-13th (-2), Daly is T-19th (E) and Smith is T-24th (+1).
Host West Virginia made a charge and sat at 12-under but had a string of bogeys late to finish at -9 to lead the 19-team field by one. Clemson was just 1-under over its final seven holes and is second at -8.
#8 Texas Tech (-5) and #6 Oklahoma State (-3) trail Arkansas to round out the top five.
Preston Stout (Oklahoma State) shot a bogey-free 67 in round two and leads with an 8-under 136 (69-67). Thomas Higgins (Clemson) is second at -7 (71-66=137).
Gomez started his day with birdies on 4 of his first six holes and was 6-under after 15 holes in round one. He dropped a shot on his 16th hole, the par-4, 18th, but bounced back with a birdie on hole 1. However, he finished round one with a double bogey on his final hole, the par-4, 2nd. In round two, once again starting on the par-4, 3rd hole, Gomez was 1-over after six holes. Then, he birdied holes 10, 11 and 12 to move into first. He added a birdie on the par-3, 16th, but had a double on the 18th to settle for his 71.
MOUNTAINEER INVITATIONAL
Host: West Virginia
Pete Dye Golf Club
Bridgeport, W.Va.
Par: 72 • 7,308 yards
Format: 5 count 4 ||36 holes Monday / 18 Holes Tuesday
RESULTS (Play Suspended in RD2):
1 West Virginia 285-282=567 / -9
2 #36 Clemson 294-274=568 / -8
3 #5 Arkansas 279-291=570 / -6
4 #8 Texas Tech 288-283=571 / -5
5 #6 Oklahoma State 288-285=573 / -3
6 #38 TCU 292-286=578 / +2
T7 Appalachian State 292-297=590 / +14
T7 Baylor 302-288=590 / +14
T9 UNC Greensboro 290-301=591 / +15
T9 James Madison 291-200=591 / +15
11 Xavier 290-302=592 / +16
12 Villanova 303-293=596 / +20
13 VCU 296-304=600 / +24
14 George Mason 302-299=601 / +25
15 Western Kentucky 306-296=602 / +26
16 Ball State 306-300=606 / +30
T17 Navy 303-304=607 / +31
T17 William & Mary 309-298=607 / +31
19 Saint Francis (Pa.) 340 (+52) – DNF Rd2 Due to darkness
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