FAYETTEVILLE – The #23 Arkansas men’s golf team had the third-best score in the final round, an 8-over-par 296, of the Blessings Collegiate Invitational, presented by Tyson Foods, and moved up two spots to finish fifth with a 54-hole score of 897 (+33).
The Blessings Collegiate Invitational, which has men and women playing the same course at the same time, also crowns a combined team champion and a combined individual best-ball champion. For the fourth time in the five-year history of the BCI, Arkansas won the men’s and women’s combined team title and combined best-ball title with the duo of John Daly II and Maria Jose Marin.
LSU, which carded an 8-under-par 280 in the final round was the only squad in the 10-team men’s field to finish under par, winning with a 2-under 862 (285-297-280). LSU’s Gunnlaugur Arni Sveinsson was the individual medalist, firing a 7-under 209 (71-67-71).
LSU’s final round was highlighted by Algot Kleen, who shot a course-record 63 (-9) thanks to eight birdies, an eagle and a bogey. The previous course record was a 64 by Razorback Julian Perico in 2020. The previous best round at the BCI was a 65 shot by five players.
Arkansas freshman Erich Fortlage, playing as an individual, led the Razorback contingent with his fifth-place finish. He fired an even-par 72 in the final round and finished with 1-over, 54-hole score of 217 (75-79-72). He offset three bogeys with three birdies to post his final-round 72.
John Daly II also carded an even-par 72 in the final round and moved up 11 spots into a tie for 12th (73-77-72=222 / +6). Daly has played in 10 career events at Arkansas and has posted seven career top-20 finishes.
Freshman Gerardo Gomez also turned in a top-20 finish, moving up one spot into a tie for 18th thanks to rounds of 78-71-75 for an 8-over 224. He led the led the team with five birdies in the final round.
Thomas Curry shook off an opening double bogey, had three birdies and climbed 13 spots up the leaderboard with a 1-over 73. He finished T37th (80-79-73=232 / +16)
Matthis Lefevre tied for 26th (74-77-76=227 / +11) and Manuel Lozada tied for 40th (74-777=83=234 / +18).
Among the Razorback individuals, Mark Stockdale had an eagle on the par-5, 15th to help him shoot 72 in the final round. Overall, he moved up 13 spots to 39th (84-77-72=233 / +17). Pablo Garcia Terol tied for 31st (77-78-74=229 / +13) and Jackson McLaughlin tied for 42nd (78-79-78=235 / +19).
Up next, Arkansas will play in a new event, the Hamptons Intercollegiate, Oct. 7-8 at one of the nation’s prestigious venues, Maidstone Club in East Hampton, N.Y.
Blessings Collegiate Invitational
Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2024
Host: Arkansas
Blessings Golf Club (72) || Fayetteville, Ark.
Team Results – FINAL:
1 #15 LSU 285-297-280=862 (-2)
2 Mississippi State 287-297-294=878 (+14)
3 #36 Louisville 301-288-301=890 (+26)
4 BYU 299-295-299=892 (+28)
5 #23 Arkansas 299-302-296=897 (+33)
6 #34 Ohio State 300-300-300=900 (+36)
7 Kent State 303-307-303=910 (+46)
8 Kansas State 301-299-315=915 (+51)
9 Missouri 305-298-318=920 (+56)
10 Virginia Tech 304-306-315=927 (+63)