Razorback MGolf Wins Season Opener at Vuori Invitational
RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. – The #8/10 Arkansas men’s golf team had four golfers finish among the top 15 and started the 2026-27 season with a win at the inaugural Vuori Invitational, played at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club.
The Razorbacks were 1-over in the final round and posted a 54-hole total of 852 (+1) to hold off Colorado by one stroke, followed by Southern Cal at +11, BYU at +12 and host San Diego at +14.
Gerardo Gomez, who placed third, and Thomas Curry, who tied for fifth, led Arkansas while Niilo Maki-Petaja tied for 11th and Lev Grinberg tied for 14th in his collegiate debut.
“I was happy with everything I saw out of the team.” Head coach Brad McMakin said. “The course and conditions were extremely difficult this week and, other than Colorado, to win pretty convincingly is a great way to start the season. Gerry and Thomas played to a very high level, Niilo finished strong and Lev performed well for his first collegiate tournament.”
It was the fourth time Arkansas won its season opener in the McMakin era, but the first time since 2011-12 when the Hogs won an NCAA-best seven times that season. Overall, it marks the sixth time the Razorbacks have won their season opener.
Gomez and Maki-Petaja paced the Razorbacks in the final round, each carding a 1-under 70.
Gomez had a double bogey on what proved to be the toughest hole for the tournament (the par-4, 11th), but had birdies on holes 8, 10 and 14 to secure his third-place finish. Maki-Petaja, who also shot 70 in round two, offset birdies on holes 7 and 13 with birdies on holes 2, 5 and 17 for his 70.
Curry posted his third career top-5 finish, firing rounds of 73-67-73 for an even-par total of 213. Grinberg turned in three rounds of 72 for a 3-over total of 216.
Willie Gordon and Guus Lafeber each carded rounds of 74 in the final round. Gordon was 6-over for the tournament and tied for 31st (72-75-74). LaFeber, who was playing as an individual, tied for 40th with a 10-over total of 223 (75-74-74).
The Razorbacks return to action Sept. 28-29 at the Bryan Bros Collegiate. The event is hosted by South Carolina at Solina Golf Club.
Vuori Invitational
Sept. 14-15, 2026
Host: San Diego
Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Par 72 — 7,003 yards
(preseason ranking from Golf Channel / Coaches Poll)
1 #8/10 Arkansas 284-283-285=852 / E
2 Colorado 287-285-281=853 / +1
3 #22/#27 Southern Cal 290-290-283=863 / +11
4 #18/23 Brigham Young 288-289-287=864 / +12
5 #38 San Diego 289-293-284=866 / +14
6 Oregon 285-291-297=873 / +21
7 #32 San Diego State 288-293-293=874 / +22
8 Long Beach State 289-298-292=879 / +27
T9 Pacific 282-297-302=881 / +29
T9 Tulsa 288-300-293=881 / +29
11 Colorado State 291-295-297=883 / +31
12 San Jose State 311-294-294=899 / +47
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