Lingmerth Marshall lead Razorbacks

NEWPORT COAST, Calif. – Seniors David Lingmerth and Jamie Marshall led a furious Razorback comeback which came up one-shot short at the Battle at the Beach in Newport Coast, Calif., placing the Arkansas men’s golf team in a tie for second place and earning Lingmerth medalist honors.

Lingmerth shot a course best seven-under par, 64, on the final round of competition with seven birdies and no strokes past par. His low round moved him from a tie for 10th after the second day to a tie for first with Washington’s Chris Williams who entered the day in first place, but shot even par to allow Lingmerth to catch up. The 64 by Lingmerth is a career best score for 18 holes, three strokes better than his previous best which he had accomplished two times.

The win for Lingmerth is the first of his career and the second by a Razorback. The Tranas, Sweden, native owned a pair of second-place finishes from the fall and two more from last season, but was never able to take top billing until Tuesday.

"David and Jamie had great days today," Arkansas head coach Brad McMakin said. "Overall we had a great week against a very strong field. It was tough to lose by one stroke, but we were competing against the best and the guys played well all week long. This is the best that we have played all year and it was a good start to the season."

Marshall was on Lingmerth’s pace most of the day as he shot a six-under-par, 65, the second-lowest round of the competition. Marshall’s six birdies moved him from a tie for 10th to a tie for third and was also a career best tying round for the Castle Rock, Colo., native, who shot a 65 in the final round of the Wolverine at Radrick Farms this fall on way to an individual victory.

Arkansas entered the final round of the Battle at the Beach with its work cut out for it, but answered the call by shooting the lowest round of the tournament by any team, a nine under 346. In fourth place entering the day, Arkansas was one of six schools to shoot under par and was edged in the team standings by UCLA who shot seven under for the day to finish 10 under for the tournament and one stroke ahead of the Razorbacks. Washington tied the Razorbacks with at nine under for the three days, but shot just three under on Tuesday. Oregon State finished fourth at five under par followed by San Diego State at five over.

Austin Cook and Dalton Owens each finished the day at two-over placing Cook tied for 31st overall with a three-day score of 216, three over par, and Owens tied for 36th overall at four over par, 217. Cook hit three birdies and five bogeys on the day while Owens had four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey. Ethan Tracy rounded out the Razorback scoring five by shooting three over par on Tuesday to finish tied for 36th with Owens. Josh Eure fired his best round of the tournament by shooting even par with two birdies and two bogeys.

The Razorbacks now get a short break to refine their strokes before heading to the Border Olympics in Laredo, Texas, March 5-6.