Tag: NCAA Golf Tournament

Arkansas struggles in round 2 of the NCAA Championship

The Golf Hogs got off to a hot start opening day of the NCAA Championship, but day two was much more of a struggle. 

The Hogs got off to a hot start opening day of the NCAA Championship, but day two was much more of a struggle.

Arkansas finished 20 over par, bringing their 36-hole score to 582 (+22). After nailing 20 birdies during round one, the Hogs only finished accumulated four in round 2.

The Hogs fell to 20th after round two, but it was a rough day for everyone on the Raptor course at Grayhawk Golf Course. Illinois (-7) and Florida (-2) were the only teams to shoot under par on Saturday, climbing the standings, Illinois climbing eight spots to become the new number one, and Florida sitting at fifth.

Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira, who contributed two of the team’s four birdies, is currently sharing the 13th position after scoring a 74 in round two, resulting in a total of 140 (+4) for the 36-hole game.

Obviously this was not the result we wanted,” head coach Brad McMakin said. “We know from past years that the afternoon wave is always tough, and it is proving to be the case once again this year. Things kind of unraveled on us the last seven holes. Despite the outcome, I am proud of the guys and how they continued to fight. We know what to expect tomorrow and we will be ready. The first goal for all 30 teams is to make the top 15 after the third round and we still have that goal in our sights.”

Arkansas will play the third round on Sunday (May 28) with Oklahoma and Ohio State with tee times starting at 1:42 pm (CT) off hole 10.

Golf Hogs off to hot start in the desert at NCAA Championship

Arkansas Off To Strong Start At NCAA Championship

Arkansas golf team opened the NCAA Championship tied for second place with Pepperdine with a team score of 281 (+1), just one stroke behind Georgia Tech.

The team score of 281 tied for the third-best single-round by the Razorbacks at the NCAA Championships, trailing a 271 in 2013 and a pair of 279’s.

“I think it was a great start,” head coach Brad McMakin said. “To have two guys shoot a combined 7-under on this golf course was truly remarkable. You are going to hit a ball in the desert, but you have to just find a way how to minimize your mistakes. I think, this being our third year out here, we know how to do that. Overall, I thought our team played really well.”

Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira (66) and Wil Gibson (67), who are tied for second and fifth, respectively, led the opening-day charge. They combined for 11 of Arkansas’s 20 birdies, tying Pepperdine for most for round one.

The 281 is the program’s best by four strokes at Grayhawk Golf Club, shooting a 285 in round four of the 2021 Championships. And the scores by Fernandez de Oliveira and Gibson are the top two scores by Hogs in the three years at the course.

Fernandez de Oliveira’s 66 is the third-best by a Razorback at the NCAA Championship behind Nicolas Echavarria’s 64 in 2013 and John Daly’s 65 in 1986.

“Playing in the desert, you have to stay patient and keep a level head,” Fernandez de Oliveira said. “You can get really good breaks or you may have to take an unplayable (penalty). You just have to keep cool and figure out what shot you are going to play next.”

Razorback men’s golf team prepares for NCAA Championship

The Arkansas men’s golf team is going to Scottsdale, Arizona to participate in their third consecutive and 26th overall NCAA Tournament. 

The Arkansas men’s golf team is headed to Scottsdale, Arizona, to participate in their third consecutive and 26th overall NCAA Tournament. 

The Razorbacks have made the top-15 cut after three rounds for the third straight year. They finished 11th in 2021 and ninth in 2022.

The Hogs finished as runner-ups at the NCAA Salem Regional, thanks to a record-setting performance. The group set new program records for the lowest 18, 36, and 54 holes. In addition, its 45-under-par score ranked fifth-best in NCAA Regional history.

Ranked 28th, Arkansas sends a veteran group including Wil Gibson, Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira, Segundo Oliva Pinto, and Julian Perico. All five have played in at least one NCAA Championship.

Stroke play for the Hogs begins Friday with a 9:27 a.m. tee time with Baylor and Duke. GOLF Channel will have coverage each afternoon during the four rounds of stroke play.

Tournament Field:

#1 Vanderbilt, #2 North Carolina, #3 Illinois, #4 Arizona State (Host), #5 Texas Tech, #6 Stanford, #7 Florida State, #8 Pepperdine, #9 Florida, #10 Oklahoma, #11 Georgia Tech, #12 Auburn, #14 Texas A&M, #15 Alabama, #16 Virginia, #17 Texas, #18 Mississippi State, #19 Oregon, #22 Colorado State, #23 Ohio State, #25 Georgia, #28 Arkansas, #30 Baylor, #33 Duke, #35 East Tennessee State, #37 BYU, #40 San Francisco, #41 Chattanooga, #46 New Mexico, #48 Colorado