Two weeks after experiencing the thrill of victory by winning the SEC championship, the University of Arkansas men’s golf team got a dose of the agony of defeat.
The Razorbacks slipped behind the cut line with a final round 8-over 292 on Wednesday at the University of Texas Golf Club to finish sixth at the NCAA Austin Regional. Arkansas fell one spot shy of qualifying for the 30-team NCAA Championships, which will be held at The Blessings in Fayetteville starting May 24.
Arkansas began the day in fifth place, but playing partner Southern California put in a blistering round of 2 under and passed the Razorbacks midway through the final nine holes.
The Razorbacks were within a stroke of Pepperdine after that, but fell back to finish the tournament at 13-over par.
Texas won the regional with a 25 under, while TCU placed second (-5) and Clemson third (-1) as the only three teams under par. Pepperdine came in at 6 over, followed by USC (+8) and the Razorbacks.
Arkansas freshman Julian Perico shot an even-par 71 on Wednesday and finished in a tie for sixth place at 3 under for the regional. He qualified for the NCAAs as an individual as the highest-placing player not on an advancing team. The Texas duo of Steven Chervony and Cole Hammer tied with TCU’s Stefano Mazzoli for medalist honors at 9-under par.
Junior Mason Overstreet placed 17th at 2 over after shooting 72 on Wednesday. Junior William Buhl’s 74 on Wednesday left him in a tie for 25th, and junior Tyson Reeder had a final-round 76 — the Hogs’ noncounting score — that put him tied for 42nd at 10 over. Junior Luis Garza fired a final-round 75 and wound up tied for 52nd place at 14 over.
In Simpsonville, Ky., Arkansas State University finished 11th in the 13-team Louisville Regional and did not advance to the NCAA Championships.
The Red Wolves shot a 9-over 293 and finished at 26 over, 18 strokes from a tie for fifth place. Top-ranked Oklahoma State won the regional with a 14-under 838, four strokes ahead of Auburn. Also advancing were Baylor, Louisville and North Florida.
Julien Sale was the top ASU player, finishing the three rounds with a 3-over 216, which was good enough for a tie for 25th overall.
Team scores
1 Texas 278-274-275—827
2 TCU 280-292-275—847
3 Clemson 284-284-283—851
4 Pepperdine 278-290-290—858
5 Southern Cal 290-288-282—860
6 Arkansas 282-291-292—865
7 Iowa 295-285-290—870
8 Marquette 290-297-293—880
9 San Jose State 291-303-294—888
Razorbacks scores
T6 Julian Perico 67-72-71—210
17 Mason Overstreet 74-69-72—215
T25 William Buhl 71-73-74—218
T42 Tyson Reeder 70-77-76—223
T52 Luis Garza 74-78-75—227