Razorbacks Take Commanding Lead After Rd1 at Blessings Collegiate
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas placed all five members of its lineup among the top 11 and shot an impressive 15-under-par 273 to take a 13-stroke lead after 18 holes at the 7th annual Blessings Collegiate Invitational, presented by Tyson Foods. In addition, two Razorbacks playing as individuals are among the top 20.
Niilo Maki-Petaja led the Razorbacks in round one, shooting a 5-under 67 to stand in second place. On his opening hole, Maki-Petaja birdied his opening hole, the 607-yard, par-5 10th. He then birdied holes 13, 16, 16 and 18 for a bogey-free, 5-under opening nine. He offset two bogeys with two birdies on his back nine to post his 67.
Lev Grinberg is one shot back at -4, sitting in third, while Erich Fortlage and Thomas Curry are tied for fourth at -3. Grinberg led the team with eight birdies, including one on his final hole, the 421-yard, par-4 9th. Fortlage started with a double bogey then closed his opening nine with six-straight 3’s, going par, birdie, eagle, birdie, par, birdie. Curry was 1-over after three holes then played his final 15 holes bogey-free with four birdies.
Individually, Willie Gordon is tied for 8th at -1. He was even at the turn with a bogey and a birdie and fell to 2-over after 13 holes. The Hot Springs native birdied holes 6, 7 and 8 and closed his round with a par to shoot 71. Guus Lafeber is tied for 19th at +1.
Two keys to Arkansas’s solid start came on the 15th and 18th holes, which played as the Hogs’ sixth and ninth holes, respectively. On both holes, seven of the nine Razorbacks were below par, with the other two players producing pars. First, on the 663-yard, par-5 15th, Arkansas had six birdies, an eagle and two pars. Then, on the 478-yard, par-4 18th, Arkansas had seven birdies and two pars.
North Texas was the only other team to break par, carding a 2-under 286, followed by UNCG at 289.
The 15-under score is the second-lowest single-round in tournament history. Also, the 15-under score ties for the seventh-best single-round by the Razorbacks in program history.
Round two of three is set for Sunday.
Blessings Collegiate Invitational, presented by Tyson Foods
Oct. 3-5, 2026
Host: Arkansas
Blessings Golf Club
Fayetteville, Ark.
Results Thru Rd1
1 Arkansas 273 / -15
2 North Texas 286 / -2
3 UNC Greensboro 289 / +1
4 Southern Miss 291 / +3
6 Middle Tennessee State 300 / +12
T7 Little Rock 306 / +18
T7 Nebraska 306 / +18
9 Oral Roberts 307 / +19
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