Freshmen Lead Hogs in Round Two at Blessings Collegiate
FAYETTEVILLE – Razorback freshmen Erich Fortlage, playing as an individual, and Gerardo Gomez each fired under par rounds Tuesday to climb nearly 20 spots up the leaderboard after two rounds of the fifth annual Blessings Collegiate Invitational, presented by Tyson Foods.
However, as a team, #23 Arkansas slipped to seventh place after a second-round score of 302 for a 36-hole total of 601 (+25).
No men’s teams are under par after 36 holes. #15 LSU continues to lead the 10-team men’s field with a 6-over-par 582 and Mississippi State is two strokes out (584 / +8).
Fortlage moved up 19 spots into a tie for sixth after carding a 2-under-par 70 on Tuesday for a two-day total of 145 (+1). He started on fire with birdies on his opening three holes. After dropping a shot on the par-5, 5th, he responded with a birdie on the par-4, 6th, only to finish the front nine with a pair of bogeys to make the turn at -1. He opened the back nine with a birdie on the par-5, 10th. He fell back to even par for the round with bogeys on 13 and 14. Fortlage rallied with birdies on holes 15 and 16 before closing his round with three pars to shoot 70.
Gomez, who shot 78 in the opening round, jumped 22 spots into a tie for 19th. He posted a 1-under 71 and has a 36-hole score of 149 (+5). His second round started slowly with bogeys on holes 1 and 2. He birdied the par-4, 9th but fell back to 2-over with a bogey on the par-4, 11th. Gomez found his rhythm down the stretch with birdies on holes 15, 17 and 18 to post his 71.
A trio of Razorbacks – John Daly II, Manual Lozada and Matthis Lefevre – each shot 77 on Tuesday. Daly is T-23 (73-77=150 / +6). Lozada and Lefevre are T-28, each shooting rounds of 74-77 for a total of 151 (+7). Thomas Curry rounded out the Razorback fivesome. He is 50th (80-79=159 / +15).
In addition to Fortlage, Arkansas has three others playing as individuals. Pablo Garcia Terol is T-38 (77-78=155 / +11), Jackson McLaughlin is T-43 (78-79=157 / +13) and Mark Stockdale is 52nd (84-77=161 / +17).
Blessings Collegiate Invitational
Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2024
Host: Arkansas
Blessings Golf Club (72) || Fayetteville, Ark.
Team Results – Rd1:
1 #15 LSU 285-297=582 (+6)
2 Mississippi State 287-297=584 (+8)
3 #36 Louisville 301-288=589 (+13)
4 BYU 299-295=593 (+17)
T5 #34 Ohio State 300-300=600 (+24)
T5 Kansas State 301-299=600 (+24)
7 #23 Arkansas 299-302=601 (+25)
8 Missouri 305-298=602 (+26)
9 Kent State 303-307=607 (+31)
10 Virginia Tech 304-306=611 (+35)
For more information on Arkansas Men’s Golf, X and Instagram.
