MGolf Leads After Rd1 at Blessings Collegiate Invitational
FAYETTEVILLE – The #26 Arkansas men’s golf program posted a 4-under-par 284 and has all seven golfers – including two individuals – among the top 20 to lead by two strokes after day one of the third annual Blessing Collegiate Invitational, presented by Tyson Foods, at the par 72 Blessings Golf Club.
In addition, Arkansas’ combined men’s and women’s score of +5 leads the field by six strokes over Mississippi State.
The BCI continues Tuesday at 8:45 am and Arkansas will tee off at 11:30 am off hole #1. GOLF Channel coverage also continues Tuesday from 3-6:30 pm (CT).
Arkansas was six back when it finished playing with then leader Kansas still on the course. The Jayhawks were as low as 11-under at one point before finishing with a 2-under-par 286 to join Arkansas as the only teams under par through 18 holes. In fact, Arkansas was 1-under as a team through 16 holes before Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira, Manuel Lozada and Segundo Oliva Pinto were part of four birdies on their 17th hole – the par-3, 8th – to push the Hogs to 4-under.
Kansas’ Gunnar Brolin sits atop the individual leaderboard by two strokes thanks to a 7-under-par 65. He tied the BCI single-round record and was one shot off the Blessings Golf Course record of 8-under, held by Razorback Julian Perico. Others to shoot 7-under at the BCI were Ryan Gerard (North Carolina) in round three of 2021, Jackson Suber (Ole Miss) in round two of 2021 and Alex Goff (Kentucky) in round two of 2020.
“I give Kansas a ton of credit, especially Gunnar (Brolin), but I also knew our score at the end of the day would be good,” said head coach Brad McMakin. “I’m not saying I knew we would lead but knew we would put ourselves in a good position. Even though our results in the first two events were not what we wanted, we were playing better than our results. Today, we continued to drive the ball exceptionally well and started to see the rest of our game come together. We didn’t leave many shots out there and, when we got in trouble, our guys managed their games well to minimize damages. I could not be prouder of our guys, including our individuals, and am excited for the next two days.”
Fernandez de Oliveira paced Arkansas on day one, carding a 2-under 70 to stand in a tie for fifth. He posted a team-best six birdies. Perico and Oliva Pinto each shot 70 and are tied for seventh at 1-under. Both were 2-over after bogeys on their 10th hole – the par-4 1st – but both birdied holes 11 and 12 to get to even. Perico added a birdie on 14 and Oliva Pinto on 17 to get to 1-under for the day.
Lozada stands in a tie for 11th with an even-par round of 72. He was 3-under through the opening six holes and actually made an impressive double bogey on his 13th hole – the par-4 4th – for his 72.
Individuals Christian Castillo and Matthew Griggs are tied for 15th with a 1-over-par 73 and Wil Gibson is tied for 19th with a 2-over-par 74.
BLESSINGS COLLEGIATE INVITATIONAL
Presented by Tyson Foods
Oct. 3 – ROUND 1
Host School: Arkansas
Blessings Golf Club || Fayetteville, Ark.
7,700 yards || Par 72
TEAM SCORES:
1. #26 Arkansas 284 (-4)
2. Kansas 286 (-2)
T3. #9 Texas A&M 292 (+4)
T3. #45 Clemson 292 (+4)
5. #36 Louisville 295 (+7)
6. UNLV 296 (+8)
7. #30 Ole Miss 297 (+9)
8. #38 Mississippi State 300 (+12)
9. UCLA 304 (+16)
10. Central Florida 307 (-19)
11. Cal 309 (+21)
For more information on Arkansas Men’s Golf, follow @RazorbackMGolf on Twitter.
