John Weast

Ortiz Sets Pace As Hogs Eye Back-To-Back Titles

Day 1 Results

VERO BEACH, Fla. – The Arkansas men’s golf team continued its recent hot streak on Monday, firing rounds of 278-285 – 563 (-13) to sit alone in third place and just two shots back of the lead at the Quail Valley Intercollegiate.

The Razorbacks opened the day and unleashed 20 birdies on the field, posting an opening-round 10-under 278 to record their low round of the fall season. Arkansas sat just one back of the lead heading to the afternoon and continued to keep pace atop the leaderboard, adding a 3-under 285 to take third place after two rounds.

Michigan State leads the field at 15-under, while Jacksonville is one shot back at 14-under and Arkansas is just two strokes off the pace in the field of 15 teams. The Razorbacks are just two weeks removed from capturing the Mountaineer Intercollegiate and are looking to win back-to-back tournament titles for the first time in six years.

Junior Alvaro Ortiz continues to play the best golf of his career, posting rounds of 66-67 – 133 (-11) with 12 birdies and one eagle on the day. He has sole possession of second place and sits just one shot off the lead. Ortiz has finished under par in nine of his 14 rounds this fall and is eyeing his fourth top-five finish in five events this year. After two rounds, he leads the field in par four and par five scoring, combining to shoot 13-under on those respective holes.

Freshman Luis Garza opened the day with a 4-under 68, before battling back from a triple-bogey early in the second round to post a 2-over 74 in the afternoon. He is T-12th overall at 2-under for the tournament and looking for his fourth consecutive top-20 finish.

Mason Overstreet recorded six birdies on the day and posted identical rounds of 72-72 – 144 (E) to claim a T-28th overall. He will tee off Tuesday looking to finish under-par at an event for the first time as a Razorback.

Dylan Naidoo and William Buhl rounded out the team, as Naidoo signed for rounds of 75-72 – 147 (+3) to sit T-48th, while Buhl added rounds of 72-77 – 149 (+5).

The third and final round of the Quail Valley Intercollegiate tees off Tuesday morning at 7:45 a.m. CT with live stats available at Golfstat.com or via the Golfstat Live app.

For more information on Arkansas men’s golf, follow @RazorbackMGolf on Twitter.

Razorback Lineup – Day 1

PlacePlayerScore
2.Alvaro Ortiz66-67 – 133 (-11)
T12.Luis Garza68-74 – 142 (-2)
T28.Mason Overstreet72-72 – 144 (E)
T48.Dylan Naidoo75-72 – 147 (+3)
T57.William Buhl72-77 – 149 (+5)

Quail Valley Intercollegiate Results – Day 1

PlaceTeamScore
1.Michigan State277-284 – 561 (-15)
2.Jacksonville280-282 – 562 (-14)
3.Arkansas278-285 – 563 (-13)
4.North Florida280-284 – 564 (-12)
5.No. 22 Liberty278-290 – 568 (-8)
6.Middle Tennessee286-283 – 569 (-7)
7.Ohio State280-293 – 573 (-3)
T8.Mississippi State288-287 – 575 (-1)
T8.Kansas285-290 – 575 (-1)
10.North Texas289-287 – 576 (E)
11.McNeese State290-289 – 579 (+3)
T12.Memphis296-287 – 583 (+7)
T12.West Virginia291-292 – 583 (+7)
14.Notre Dame291-295 – 586 (+10)
15.Indiana291-296 – 587 (+11)