Tied for 2nd Hogs look to final

WAYZATA, Minn.-The University of Arkansas men’s golf team ended day one of the fifth-annual Gopher Invitational at a 1-over tie with tournament host Minnesota for second place. The Razorbacks are just two strokes behind the leader SMU, who shot 575(285-290).

“It seems to be a familiar place for us to be in,” head coach Brad McMakin said. “We have been in second as a team for the last six appearances.”

The Hogs, in their first appearance of the 2009-2010 season, started slower in the first round shooting an 8-over 296, but battled up the leaderboard from fifth place to a tie at second, with a 7-under 281 in the second round.

Falling two strokes behind Arkansas in fourth place Charlotte carded a 3-over 579(298-281). The University of North Carolina, Wilmington took fifth with 10-over 586(287-299). Notre Dame went 12-over 588(302-286), followed by Iowa 13-over 589(295-294), Lamar 20-over 596(304-292), Northern Iowa 21-over 597(306-291), Wisconsin 24-over 600(306-294), North Carolina-Greensboro 26-over 602(301-301), and Miami of Ohio at 30-over 606(300-306).

Minnesota’s Ben Pisani was atop the individual leaderboard for both rounds after delivering a punishing 7-under 65 in the first round, and a 1-under 71.

“We had a pretty rough start in the first round today, but we were able to come back in the second round,” McMakin said. “Everyone contributed.”

Sophomore Ethan Tracy led the team with an even par first round and a 1-under 71 in the second. Tracy is now tied for fifth place, up from a tie in eighth. Senior David Lingmerth was tied for 31st after the first round, but finished in a tie for seventh, shooting an even par 144(75-69).

Jamie Marshall also improved his position from a tie in 37th to a tie for 16th, going 2-over 146(76-70) for the day. Dalton Owens also tied in 16th shooting 73s in both rounds. Ty Spinella rounded out play for the team with a 5-over 149(78-71), tying for 35th. Spinella carded an eagle on hole No. 3 and an ace on No. 11 in the second round. Austin Cook played as an individual shooting an even par 144(70-74).

“Hopefully, we have brushed off the dust in the first round and we can get back to be competitive tomorrow,” McMakin said adding, “Using some of that experience we have from the older guys, we will go out there tomorrow and hope for the best.”

The Razorbacks will return to the course for the final round of play beginning at 8:10 on Monday morning. Live stats are available at Golfstat.com

Download: First Round Individual Scores.pdf