Arkansas Stumbles on Day 2 at NCAA Championship

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Arkansas led the field with 20 birdies in round one, but only had four in round two as the Razorbacks slipped into a tie for 20th with a 20-over-par score of 301 on Saturday and a 36-hole score of 582 (+22) at the 2023 NCAA Championships, played at Grayhawk Golf Club.

Individually, Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira, who had two of the team’s four birdies, is tied for 13th after his 74 in round two and a 36-hole total of 140 (+4).

The Razorbacks were not the only team to succumb to the tough Raptor Course on Saturday as only two teams shot under par in round two with leader Illinois firing a 7-under-par 273 to climb eight spots into first. Florida was 2-under and jumped five spots to second.

“Obviously this was not the result we wanted,” head coach Brad McMakin said. “We know from past years that the afternoon wave is always tough, and it is proving to be the case once again this year. Things kind of unraveled on us the last seven holes. Despite the outcome, I am proud of the guys and how they continued to fight. We know what to expect tomorrow and we will be ready. The first goal for all 30 teams is to make the top 15 after the third round and we still have that goal in our sights.”

The Razorbacks are currently six strokes from the top 15 and 10 strokes from the top eight. The top 15 teams (ties will be broken) and top nine individuals not on an advancing team will play a fourth round on Monday (May 29) to determine seeds for team match play and the 2023 NCAA Individual Champion.

Arkansas will play the third round on Sunday (May 28) with Oklahoma and Ohio State with tee times starting at 1:42 pm (CT) off hole 10.

Julian Perico tied Fernandez de Oliveira for best round by a Razorback Saturday. Perico posted his second straight 74 and is tied for 96th (148 / +8). Wil Gibson is tied for 67th (67-79=146 / +6). Segundo Oliva Pinto (74-76=150) is tied for 115th and Manuel Lozada (76-77=153) is tied for 132nd.

2023 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships
Location: Grayhawk Golf Club – Raptor Course || Scottsdale, Ariz.
Par: 70 • Yards: 7,28 yards

Team Results:
1  #3 Illinois  285-273=558 / -2
2  #9 Florida  283-278=561 / +1
T3  #2 North Carolina 282-284=566 / +6
T3 #11 Georgia Tech  280-286=566 / +6
5  #8 Pepperdine  281-287=568 / +8
6  #1 Vanderbilt  282-288=570 / +10
T7  #7 Florida State. 284-287=571 / +11
T7  #16 Virginia  290-281=571 / +11
T9  #15 Alabama  290-282=572 / +12
T9  #4 Arizona State  291-281=572 / +12
T11  #12 Auburn  288-286=574 / +14
T11  #14 Texas A&M  289-285=574 / +14
T13  #25 Georgia  285-291=576 / +16
T13  #6 Stanford  292-286=576 / +16
T13  #37 BYU  289-287=576 / +16
16  #5 Texas Tech  282-295=577 / +17
T17  #40 San Francisco  285-294=579 / +19
T17 #48 Colorado  292-287=579 / +19
19  #10 Oklahoma  287-293=580 / +20
T20  #28 Arkansas  281-301=582 / +22
T20  #23 Ohio State  287-295=582 / +22
22  #19 Oregon 292-291=583 / +23
23  #18 Mississippi State  291-295=586 / +26
24  #17 Texas  295-292=587 / +27
25  #46 New Mexico  293-296=589 / +29
26  #33 Duke  292-300=590 / +30
27  #41 Chattanooga  294-300=594 / +34
28  #22 Colorado State  296-299=595 / +35
29  #35 East Tennessee State  302-297=600 / +40
30  #30 Baylor  304-297=601 / +41

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Golf, follow @RazorbackMGolf on Twitter.