Razorbacks Off to Solid Start at NCAA Championships
CARLSBAD, Calif. – The sixth-ranked Arkansas men’s golf team turned in an even-par round of 288 and are tied for 10th after the first round of the NCAA Championships, played at the par-72 Omni La Costa Resort – North Course.
#30 UCLA got off to a fast start and leads at -8 (280). The Bruins teed off early, started on hole 10 and were 6-under after four holes. Josh Kim birdied the first four holes he played and Alex Papayoanou birdied two of his first four. Top-ranked Auburn is second at -4 (284) and #14 Pepperdine is third at -3. #29 Duke and #42 San Diego are tied for fourth at -2 while #3 Texas, #12 Arizona, #10 North Carolina and #11 Vanderbilt are tied for sixth at -1. The Hogs and #4 Virginia are tied for 10th at even, leading three teams in a tie for 12th at +3.
“I’m very pleased with our effort today,” head coach Brad McMakin said. “Our goal was to shoot even par today and we grinded, and I mean grinded, out a really good round. We scored on some key holes on the front nine, with three birdies on the first hole and getting four birdies on hole six. When the wind picked up, we continued to stay the course. It was crucial for us to get off to a solid start. I know our guys felt like they left some shots out there, but, when you look at the other scores, we know we played well. Hopefully, we can take advantage of playing in the morning wave tomorrow.”
The Razorbacks got off to a hot start with three birdies on the first hole but were 5-over on holes 2 and 3. However, Cam Smith birdied hole five before he, Gerardo Gomez, Erich Fortlage and Thomas Curry each birdied the par-5 6th. Arkansas opened its inward nine with Gomez, Fortlage and Smith posting a birdie on the par-5 10th to move the Hogs into second. However, Arkansas had seven bogeys with four birdies over its final seven holes to post its even-par round of 288.
Gomez fired an opening-round, 2-under 70 and is tied for 15th after 18 holes. The sophomore has carded an under-par round in 12 of his last 13 rounds. He opened with a birdie but followed with a bogey on 2. He then reeled off birdies on holes 6, 8 and 10 to get to 3-under. He dropped a shot on 12 then birdied the par-3 16th. After a bogey on 17, he left his birdie putt on 18 an inch short to shoot his 70.
Fortlage shot a 1-under, 71 and is tied for 25th. He has shot par or better in 26 rounds this season, extending his school season record
Cam Smith had a bad break on 18 and his 30-foot, par-saving putt came up just short. His bogey led to a 1-over round of 71 and he is tied for 57th. Thomas Curry had a birdie on 18 and finished with a 2-over 74. John Daly II shot a 4-over 74.
2026 NCAA Championship
Stroke Play: May 29-June 1 (Fri-Mon.)
Location: Omni La Costa Resort – North Course || Carlsbad, Calif.
Par: 72 || Yards: 7,538 yards
Host: Texas
Format: 5 count 4, 18 holes each day for 3 Rds; top 15 teams and 9 individuals advance to Rd4; end of Rd4, an individual champion crowned and the top 8 teams advance to match play.
Field:
1 #30 UCLA 280 / -8
2 #1 Auburn 284 / -4
3 #14 Pepperdine 285 / -3
T4 #42 San Diego 286 / -2
T4 #29 Duke 286 / -2
T6 #3 Texas 287 / -1
T6 #10 North Carolina 287 / -1
T6 #11 Vanderbilt 287 / -1
T6 #12 Arizona 287 / -1
T10 #6 ARKANSAS 288 / E
T10 #4 Virginia 288 / E
T12 #13 Arizona State 291 / +3
T12 #15 Stanford 291 / +3
T12 #2 Florida 291 / +3
T15 #16 Oklahoma 292 / +4
T15 #18 Tennessee 292 / +4
T15 #23 Georgia 292 / +4
T18 #33 Louisville 294 / +6
T18 #56 Chattanooga 294 / +6
T20 #39 Arkansas State 295 / +7
T20 #5 Oklahoma State 295 / +7
T22 #22 Brigham Young 296 / +8
T22 #40 Purdue 296 / +8
24 #28 USC 297 / +9
25 #37 Mississippi State 298 / +10
26 #20 Texas A&M 299 / +11
27 #57 Memphis 301 / +13
T28 #7 LSU 303 / +15
T28 #9 Ole Miss 303 / +15
30 #26 Florida State 307 / +19
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