Hogs In Contention At Gopher Invite
INDEPENDENCE, Minn. – Behind two players in the top five, the No. 20 Arkansas men’s golf team is in contention at the Gopher Invitational after firing Saturday rounds of 289-284 – 573 (+5) to sit T-2nd and just two shots off the lead at Windsong Farm Golf Club.
Starting on the back nine in the morning round, the Razorbacks raced out to the best start of the day as Alvaro Ortiz birdied his first three holes and Dylan Naidoo opened with four consecutive birdies. Arkansas got to 8-under after four holes, but came back to the field on the difficult front nine and finished with an opening-round 5-over 289 to sit T-3rd overall.
The Razorbacks came back in the second round with 16 birdies and were one of just four teams to shoot even-par or better in the afternoon, firing an even-par 284 to finish the day tied with No. 10 Oklahoma at 5-over.
Arkansas will tee off Sunday morning looking for a team victory for the 11th consecutive season, all coming under head coach Brad McMakin. Over the last 11 years, Arkansas has 22 wins, including 17 during the last six seasons.
Ortiz continued the red hot start to his season with two more rounds under par at 70-70 – 140 (-2). He birdied his final hole of the day and now has five consecutive rounds under par to start the year and sits T-2nd overall. Ortiz is deadlocked with Naidoo who mirrored his teammate with back-to-back 1-under 70’s. The duo sit just two shots off the pace.
William Buhl is T-27th after rounds of 76-70 – 146 (+4), while Mason Overstreet is a finished T-34th at 73-74 – 147 (+5). Charles Kim rounded out the team at 77-74 – 151 (+9) and T-50th overall.
Luis Garza took part in the Gopher Individual Tournament at the nearby par 72 Pioneer Creek Golf Course, recording rounds of 74-69 – 143 (-1) to sit alone in seventh place. He posted the round of the day in the afternoon, rolling in three birdies on the front side and two more on the back side before settling for a 3-under 69.
The third and final round of the Gopher Invitational tees off Sunday morning at 7:20 a.m. CT. Teams will tee off No. 1 and No. 10 with live stats available at Golfstat.com or via the Golfstat Live app.
Razorback Lineup (Day 1)
| Place | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| T2. | Alvaro Ortiz | 70-70 – 140 (-2) |
| T2. | Dylan Naidoo | 70-70 – 140 (-2) |
| T27. | William Buhl | 76-70 – 146 (+4) |
| T35. | Mason Overstreet | 73-74 – 147 (+5) |
| T50. | Charles Kim | 77-74 – 151 (+9) |
| T6. (IND) | Luis Garza | 74-69 – 143 (-1) |
Gopher Invitational Results (Day 1)
| Place | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | San Diego State | 289-282 – 571 (+3) |
| T2. | No. 20 Arkansas | 289-284 – 573 (+5) |
| T2. | No. 10 Oklahoma | 284-289 – 573 (+5) |
| T4. | Michigan State | 292-284 – 576 (+8) |
| T4. | Kent State | 286-290 – 576 (+8) |
| 6. | No. 11 California | 303-277 – 580 (+12) |
| 7. | New Mexico | 291-290 – 581 (+13) |
| 8. | Iowa | 295-291 – 586 (+18) |
| 9. | Minnesota | 298-291– 589 (+21) |
| T10. | Charlotte | 296-295 – 591 (+23) |
| T10. | Pepperdine | 295-296 – 591 (+23) |
| 12. | SMU | 303-289 – 592 (+24) |
| 13. | Washington | 298-295 – 593 (+25) |
| T14. | Minnesota (B) | 301-302 – 603 (+35) |
| T14. | St. John's (Minn.) | 309-294 – 603 (+35) |
For more information on Arkansas men’s golf, follow @RazorbackMGolf on Twitter.
