PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Arkansas opened its spring season Sunday with 36 holes at The Hayt, shooting an opening round 295 before rallying with a 1-under-par 287 in round two and standing in a tie for sixth with a score of 582. However, three teams still have two holes to play before finishing round two at Sawgrass Country (par 72, 6,966 yards).
Vanderbilt, ranked #2, is leading the 14-team field with a 19-under-par score of 557. Host and #42-ranked North Florida is second at -11. Louisiana Tech, one of the three teams that did not finish, is third at +1 with two holes left to play. UCF (+4) and Florida Gulf Coach (+5) stand one stroke ahead of #39 Arkansas and Furman.
Top-ranked Gordan Sargent (Vanderbilt) is the individual leader at -10 (70-64=134).
Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira opened with an even-par 72 before posting a bogey-free 68 in the afternoon session. He climbed 12 spots and is tied for fourth at -4. His spring started with a par before taking a triple bogey on his second hole. After 10 straight pars, the senior birdied three of his last six holes to finish even. In round two, Fernandez de Oliveira opened with a birdie and made the turn at 3-under with birdies on holes 7 and 8. He opened the back nine with a birdie and reeled off eight straight pars for his 68.
Wil Gibson, playing as an individual, and Manuel Lozada are tied for 24th. Gibson carded a 1-under-par 71 in the first round and was tied for seven. The senior shot 75 in the after and is +2 (146) through two rounds. Lozada, also +2 (146) after two rounds, shot 73 in both sessions.
Julian Perico is tied for 31st (73-74=147). In round one, Perico eagled the par-5 8th hole as he extended his school record now with 22 eagles. Christian Castillo is tied for 53rd (78-72=150) and Segundo Oliva Pinto, who eagled his final hole in round two, is tied for 71st (77-78=155).
Team Standings:
1. #2 Vanderbilt 286-271=557 (-19)
2. #49 North Florida 288-277=565 (-11)
3. Louisiana Tech 291 (+1) *
4. UCF 294-286=580 (+4)
5. Florida Gulf Coast 301-280=581 (+5)
T6. #39 ARKANSAS 295-287=582 (+6)
T6. Furman 298-284=582 (+6)
8. Coastal Carolina 289-295=584 (+8)
9. #17 Alabama294-293=587 (+11)
10. Chattanooga 297-292=589 (+13)
11. UAB 295-297=592 (+16
12. North Texas 296 (+19) *
T13. Jacksonville State 308 (+29) *
T13. Jacksonville 312-293=605 (+29)
* - did not complete round two, score in parenthesis was the score when play was suspended
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