Razorbacks, Fortlage Open Spring With Wins at Palmas Del Mar
Humacao, Puerto Rico – Arkansas fired a 13-under par in round two on Monday and started round three before play was suspended due to darkness. Tuesday morning, play resumed with the Razorbacks down four strokes and seven holes to play. Arkansas hit the gas pedal, shooting 10-under for the round and 21-under for the three rounds, to defend its title at Palmas Del Mar Collegiate by two strokes at the Palmas Del Mar Golf Club (par 72).
The Razorbacks, which won the event last year with a 27-under-par score of 837, were in seventh after round one and nine shots back after a 2-over-par 290. In round two, Arkansas had all five golfers shoot under par and turned in the best round with a 13-under-par 275 to move in to second, trailing 36-hole leader TCU by five. The Razorbacks had four golfers shoot under par and were able to get the win with their 10-under-par final round while TCU was 3-under for the final round.
Freshman Erich Fortlage won his first collegiate event, shooting a 69 in the final round. He posted a bogey-free 67 (-5) in round one, carded a 2-under 70 in round two and started round three on hole five with two birdies and a bogey before play was suspended. When play resumed Tuesday morning, Fortlage had birdies on his first two holes (16 and 17). He had pars on holes 18 and 1 before dropping a shot on the par-4 2nd. He answered with an eagle on the par-5 3rd and parred his final hole for a 3-under 69.
His 65 in round one, 206 total for 54-holes and 10-under-par score are the best by a Razorback this year.
Junior John Daly II had his best collegiate finish with his first top-5 outing, tying for fourth, to play a key role in the win. For the second year in a row, he was under par all three rounds (71-69-70) and posted a 6-under 210. The 6-under was his second-best score and his 201 was his second-best total for a par 72 course. Last year he tied for seventh (208/-8)
Daly had four birdies and a bogey in round two and was even to start round three with three birdies and three bogeys, before play was suspended. When play resumed, Daly opened with a birdie on the par-5, 16th and he closed his round with a birdie on the par-5, 3rd to post his 2-under 70.
Thomas Curry opened the event with a 2-over 74 then posted back-to-back rounds of 70 to finish in a tied for 15th (214 / -2). In the final round, Curry opened with a birdie on the par-4, 6th. However, he had a double bogey on his nest hole. He rallied with birdies on holes 13 and 15 before play was suspended. Despite a bogey on his 14th hole (the par-4, 1st), he answered with birdies on holes 2 and 3 for his 2-under-par 70.
Gerardo Gomez, who opened with a 78, closed the even with rounds of 68 and 69. He moved from a tie for 71st after round one, to a tie for 33rd after round two and to a tie for 21st thanks to his 1-under par total of 216.
Matthis Lefevre tied for 48th (+6), thanks to a 4-under-par 68 in round two, and Mark Stockdale, playing as an individual, tied for 53rd (+7).
Up Next, Arkansas hosts the CABO Collegiate Mar. 2-4.
Palmas Del Mar Collegiate
Feb. 9-11, 2025
Humacao, Puerto Rico – Palmas Del Mar Golf Club (72)
Host: UNC Greensboro
Team Results Final:
1 Arkansas 290-275-278=843 (-21)
2 #46 TCU 281-279-285=845 (-19)
3 Michigan 292-286-275=853 (-11)
4 Kennesaw State 289-282-283=854 (-10)
5 Indiana 296-283-281=860 (-4)
6 UNC Greensboro 287-284-292=863 (-1)
T7 Nebraska 294-286-286=866 (+2)
T7 North Texas 285-295-286=866 (+2)
9 Maryland 294-286-288=868 (+4)
10 Rutgers 287-292-294=973 (+9)
11 Boston College 289-300-288=877 (+13)
12 Virginia Tech 303-293-289=885 (+21)
13 Butler 297-308-283=888 (+24)
14 Drexel 310-300-298=908 (+44)
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