Arkansas Two Strokes Back at Hackler

GEORGETOWN, S.C. – Senior Ethan Tracy’s three-over par first day leads the No. 9 University of Arkansas men’s golf team at the General Hackler Invitational in Georgetown, S.C., and has the Razorbacks two strokes off the team lead with 18 holes to play.

Arkansas trails No. 15 North Florida by two strokes with its two-round score of 16-over par.  No. 19 New Mexico and two-time defending national champion Augusta State are tied for third at 19-over par.  East Carolina is fifth in the team standings at 21-over par.

Tracy’s two-round score of three-over par has him in a tie for seventh on the individual leaderboard, and could be much better had he not struggled on holes 17 and 18 of the course.  Even par with four birdies and four bogeys through 16 holes on his first round, Tracy posted back-to-back double bogeys on the final two holes to finish the opening round at four over.  Tracy’s second round was also looking very good through 16 holes as he sat at three-under par before the Hilliard, Ohio, native finished his day with a pair of bogeys for a one-under par round.

Junior Austin Cook matched Tracy’s second round one-under par score and is tied for 12th individually at four-over par.  Also leaving some strokes on the courses, Cook could have been one-over par in his opening round had it not been for a quadruple bogey on the par four, seventh.  Cook also recorded three birdies and four bogeys during his first round of the day.  Avoiding the major hiccup in his second round, Cook notched four birdies and three bogeys over the second 18 of the day which included a solid birdie on No.18 to close out the round at one-under par.

Tied for 15th overall, sophomore Sebastian Cappelen wrapped up the first day of competition with a score of six-over par.  Playing much better over the second 18 holes of the day, Cappelen was six-over par after 18 and played the second round at even par with four birdies, four bogeys and 10 pars.  Cappelen’s second round saw him play the par three and par five holes at four-under par after playing those same seven holes at two-over in his first round.

Earning his way into the scoring five after a very good tournament the last time out, freshman Kolton Crawford is tied for 27th individually.  Crawford’s first round saw him sink four birdie putts, nine pars, three bogeys and a pair of double bogeys for a score of three-over par.  His second round started poorly with a double bogey on the first, but he quickly settled down to hit 10 straight pars.  Crawford closed out the round with four pars and three bogeys for a score of five-over par for the round and eight-over par for the day.

Junior Josh Eure rounded out Arkansas’ scoring five with a two-round score of nine-over par, a total that ties for 31st overall.  Unlike his teammates, Eure’s best round came on his first 18 holes where he played the course at one-over par on three birdies and four bogeys.  A double and triple bogey in his second round raised the Crofton, Md., native’s score to eight-over par for the round.

Playing as an individual, freshman Thomas Sorensen matched Eure with a score of nine-over par for the day to tie for 31st overall.  One-under par through the first nine holes of the day, Sorensen played the back nine at five-over par to wrap up the first 18 holes at four-over par.  Three bogeys and a double bogey gave the first-year player who is competing in just his third collegiate tournament a score of five-over par over the second 18 holes of the day.

The Razorbacks tee off for the final round of the General Hackler Invitational on Monday morning at 8:20 a.m. with players from Augusta State, New Mexico and North Florida as they look to win their sixth tournament of the season.