Razorbacks Lead After 18 Holes; Rd2 Suspended

Mobile, Ala. – Arkansas opened the Hal Williams Collegiate with a season-best, 13-under-par round and sat in first place by two shots. The Razorbacks were 6-under in round two before play was suspended due to darkness.

When play was halted, #5 Illinois sat atop the leaderboard at -21 with Arkansas firmly in second at -19 with Oral Roberts in third at -10. Both Illinois and Arkansas have three players each with one hole to play to wrap up the second round.

Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira fired a season-best, 6-under-par round of 65 and was in second place – one shot back – after 18 holes. The senior was bogey free with four birdies through 10 holes. After dropping a shot on the par-4, 11th, Fernandez de Oliveira recorded an eagle on 13 and rolled in a birdie on 16 for his 65. In the afternoon session, he had birdies on holes 3, 5, 6 and 7 before dropping a shot on hole 8. He then reeled off nine straight pars before play was suspended with only the 18th hole left to play.

Manuel Lozada stands in a tie for fifth through 35 holes. He was 3-under in round one with six birdies and tied for seventh. In round two, Lozada had a bogey-free round with three birdies through 17 holes. He started on hole two and will complete round two by playing hole one early Tuesday. His score of 6-under put him in a tie for fifth.

Julian Perico carded seven birdies in round one and his 67 was a season best. Thanks to birdies on three of his last six holes in the morning session, Perico was tied for fourth at -4. In round two, he had three bogeys on his first nine holes but recorded an eagle on the par-5, 6th hole to make the turn at +1. Perico had seven pars and a birdie on his back nine before play was suspended with one hole to play.

Christian Castillo finished his round with a pair of even-par rounds of 71. He is currently tied for 29th. Matthew Griggs also finished his round and is +1 with rounds of 72-71 to stand in a tie for 37th.

After round two is completed early Tuesday (Feb. 14), the team will roll straight into the third and final round.

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