Arkansas men’s golf coach Brad McMakin had a fervent hope his team would shed its opening-round struggles heading into the NCAA postseason this week.
The Razorbacks didn’t do it. Arkansas shot an 11-over par 299 in the first round of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional on Monday to tie for eighth place at the University Club golf course.
The No. 31 Razorbacks had sole possession of last place for a brief spell before settling toward the middle of the pack at the 14-team regional.
No. 6 LSU carded a 12-under 276 on its home course to lead No. 18 Virginia (-6) by six strokes and No. 7 Oregon (-1) by 11. No. 19 Duke is at 3-over in fourth place, followed by Kentucky (+4), Jacksonville (+6) and Jacksonvile State (+9).
The top five teams from each of six NCAA regionals will advance to the NCAA championships, which begin next week outside of Chicago. The Razorbacks are tied with No. 29 Northwestern, seven shots out of the fifth qualifying spot.
Arkansas has carded its worst round in the opening round in every spring event this year. Freshman Mason Overstreet had the top round for the Razorbacks with a 1-over 73, with two bogeys and one birdie on the 7,372-yard layout. Overstreet is tied for 20th in the medalist race.
Sophomore Charles Kim fired a 2-over 74, which featured nine consecutive pars on his front nine, two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine. Kim is tied for 23rd.
Junior Alvaro Ortiz and freshman Luis Garza, playing in the top two spots for the Hogs, both shot 4-over 76. Garza was as low as 2-under through six holes, but had a pair of double bogeys on the back nine. Ortiz made the turn at 1-over par, but had four bogeys and one birdie on his next five holes.
Freshman William Buhl had a non-counting score of 8-over, hurt by an 8 on the par 4 14th hole.