Strong Finish Leads Razorbacks To Top 5 Showing
VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. – Keyed by a four-man score of nine-under over its final nine holes on Tuesday, the Arkansas men’s golf team posted the third-best round of the day with a five-under 275 to move up two spots and finish in fifth place at the 12-team Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate held at Old Overton Club.
Taking on a field in which eight of the 12 teams are ranked in Golfweek’s top 60, the Razorbacks opened Monday’s 36-hole day with a two-under 278 but fell back due to a 293 in the afternoon. Arkansas, who started Tuesday’s final round on the course’s back nine, made the turn at four-over, but used a combined 11 birdies with just two bogeys from its four counting scores to shooting nine-under over its final nine holes.
“I’m really proud of the guys for bouncing back with a good final round,” said head coach Brad McMakin. “We just need to put three rounds together and if we start to do that we can play with anybody in the country.”
Three of Arkansas’ four counting scores on the day were in red numbers, as senior Nicolas Echavarria became the third different Razorback to card six birdies in a single-round this week. Echavarria’s four-under 66 was the third-lowest round turned in by the 60-player field in the final round, while he was backed up by a one-under 69 from sophomore Alvaro Ortiz and senior Kolton Crawford. The final counting score was a one-over 71 by senior Moore.
Ortiz was the first round leader after a career-low five-under 65 on Monday morning and moved up one spot into a tie for 11th place with his final round 69. Ortiz’s three-round scorecard of 65-75-69/209 (-1) marked the second time in three fall events he’s finished as Arkansas’ low-man. Ortiz carded a career-high 13 birdies over the two-day event
Just like the previous two rounds, Moore was solid during his one-over 71. Playing in his 39th career tournament, Moore picked up his 22nd top 20 finish thanks to ranking second in the field with 39 pars and never making back-to-back bogeys over the three rounds.
Along with Echavarria, Crawford turned around his day in a big way on the front nine, playing bogey-free with three birdies to shoot 69 and tie for 28th place (73-71-69). Out of Crawford’s 10 birdies in the tournament, seven came on the front nine where he was a combined two-under. Echavarria’s 66 moved him up 18 spots on the individual leaderboard into a tie for 33rd position (76-74-66).
@RazorbackMGolf Lineup
T11. Alvaro Ortiz – 65-75-69/209 (-1)
T20. Taylor Moore – 68-73-71/212
T28. Kolton Crawford – 73-71-69/213
T33. Nicolas Echavarria – 76-74-66/216
54. Zach Coats – 72-75-79/226
Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate Final Standings (Golfweek Ranking)
1. Alabama (29) – 278-268-275821 (-19)
2. Florida (33) – 287-268-271/826 (14)
3. Auburn (2) – 276-278-273/827 (-13)
4. Florida State (5) – 279-279-275/833 (-7)
5. Arkansas (51) – 278-293-275/846 (+6)
6. UAB (32) – 286-283-279/848
7. UNLV (58) – 283-283-287/853
8. Baylor (34) – 289-284-286/859
9. UTSA (130) – 289-285-292/866
10. Kennesaw State (82) – 292-292-284/868
11. Charlotte (65) – 299-291-282/872
12. Mississippi State (98) – 294-292-288/874