Arkansas MGolf Leads After Rd1 at Blessings Collegiate Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas men’s golf program has a total of six players among the top 11 and the team fired a 5-over par 293 to lead by six strokes after 18 holes at the sixth annual Blessings Collegiate Invitational, presented by Tyson Foods, at the Blessings Golf Club.

Round two is set for Tuesday (Oct. 1) with the Razorback individuals starting on hole 1 at 8 am and the team teeing off at 9 am off hole 1 as well.

Razorbacks among the top 11 include Cam Smith (T2), Thomas Curry (T2), John Daly II (T7), Erich Fortlage (T11), Niilo Maki-Petaja (T11) and Alex Yang (T11). Smith, Daly, Fortlage and Maki-Petaja are part of the team fivesome while Curry and Yang are playing as individuals.

The Razorbacks started on hole 10. Smith started fast with birdies on his second and third holes (holes 11 and 12). He dropped a shot on holes 15 and 16 and made the turn at even par. He fell to 1-over with a bogey on his 13th hole (the par-4, 4th) then bounced back with birdies on his 14th and 15th holes (holes 5 and 6) to get to 1-under. However, he got a bad break on his 17th hole (the par-3 8th) and bogeyed before closing the round with a par for his even-par 72.

Curry opened with a bogey on the par-5 10th, but answered with a birdie on his second hole (the par-4 11th). He offset a bogey on his fourth hole with a birdie on his seventh. The junior opened his back nine with a par and a birdie. After bogies on his 12th and 13th holes (holes 3 and 4), Curry eagled his 14th hole, the par-5 5th, to get to 1-under. However, he bogeyed his 16th hole (the par-4 7th) before finishing two pars for his even-par 72.

Arkansas leads Louisville and Brigham Young by six strokes. The Cardinals and Cougars carded an 11-over-par 299. Kansas State is fourth at (+13), Kent State in fifth (+14) and a pair of teams – Washington State and UNC Greensboro – are tied for sixth (+15).

BLESSINGS COLLEGIATE INVITATIONAL
Sept. 29-Oct. 1 • 18 holes each day
Blessings Golf Club
Fayetteville, Ark.
Par 72 || 7,969 yards

RD1 Results (Men):
 1  Arkansas    293 / +5
T2  Louisville   299 / +11
T2 Brigham Young  299 / +11
4  Kansas State   301 / +13
5  Kent State  302 / +14
T6 Washington State  303 / +15
T6 UNC Greensboro  303 / +15
8  Missouri  306 / +18
9  Mississippi State  311 / +23
10 Maryland  319 / +31

For more information, follow on:
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