Arkansas golf teams win own rain-shortened Blessings Collegiate Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas graduate senior John Driscoll III fired another 4-under-par 68 and leads by four shots while the No. 11 Razorbacks fired a 4-under-par 284 to win the rain-shortened fourth annual Blessings Collegiate Invitational by six shots as their 36-hole score of 563 (-13) is a two-round record at the event.

The Arkansas women’s golf team broke an 18-hole and 36-hole Blessings Collegiate Invitational women’s record on Day 2 of the Hogs’ home tournament, shooting an 8-under 285 on Tuesday. With an 11-under 565 through 36 holes, Arkansas holds a 14-shot cushion over Mississippi State who is 3-over par through 36 holes. Four Hogs finished in the top five after two rounds, led by Maria José Marin who is 10-under par with a 3-shot lead.

The Arkansas women’s and men’s golf teams swept all awards at the 2023 Blessings Collegiate Invitational. Round three of the tournament was cancelled due to weather, making scores after 36 holes the final results.

Driscoll was not the only Razorback to post a 4-under 68 as fellow graduate senior Mateo Pulcini, playing for the Arkansas “B” team, matched the 68.

Two teams — No. 20 Mississippi State and No. 3 Washington — shot 7-under and made a run at Arkansas in round two, but the Razorbacks’ ninestroke lead after Day 1 kept the home team comfortably in the lead. The squad posted three birdies on holes 2, 5, 8 and 13 to help set the record.

Mississippi State finished at 7-under par (569) after 36 holes and Washington finished 1-over par (577). The Bulldogs’ Hunter Logan moved up 12 spots into a tie for second with a 5-under-par 67 to lead MSU. Washington’s Petr Hruby was 3-under, moved up 13 spots into a tie for sixth and led the Huskies charge.

Arkansas “B” is in fourth with a 36-hole score of 583 (7-over par). The fivesome had four birdies and a par on the par-5, 15th hole.

After a par on No. 1, Driscoll had back-to-back birdies then got to 3-under with a birdie on No. 8. The dropped a shot on hole nine but bounced back with a birdie on No. 10. After a string of pars, including a nice par save on No.12, Driscoll rolled In a birdie on the par-3, 17th hole. He closed the day with a par on the 18th to shoot his second 68 and finished at 8-under par (136) for 36 holes.

Pulcini opened his day with a bogey on No. 10 and a double bogey on No. 11. However, he was bogey-free the last 16 holes with seven birdies — including three straight on holes 4, 5 and 6 — to shoot his 68. He moved 18 spots up the leaderboard and tied for 11th (76-68–144/E).

Thomas Curry was the only other Razorback under par on Tuesday with a 1-under 71. He finished in a 16th-place tie with a 36-hole score of 145. Manuel Lozada was 1-over but stayed inside the top five at T4 (6973–142/-2).

John Daly II turned in an evenpar 72 for the second-straight day and finished tied for 11th at 144. Also finishing in a tie for 11th place was Jacob Skov Olesen (70-74–144).

For Team “B,” Matthis Lefevre finished tied for sixth. After an opening-round 70, the junior shot 73 on Tuesday and finished at 1-under par (143) through 36 holes. Christian Castillo was even on Day 2 and finished tied for 18th with a 2-over-par 146 (74-72). Kaelen Dulany finished tied for 37th (78-74–152/+8) and Matthew Griggs finished tied for 39th (76-77–153/+9).

The Arkansas women got round two started on No. 10 in the morning slot, as José Marin and Miriam Ayora began the day with birdies. Arkansas saw some troubles on holes 12 and 14 but began to settle in throughout the back nine. José Marin shot a 67 for the second consecutive day, doing so with eight birdies. The freshman led the tournament with 16 total birdies and a 3.75 par 4s average and finished at 10-under 134 (67-67).

Ayora had another solid day on the course, staying put at third place with a 4-under 140 (70-70) through 36 holes. Ayora’s second consecutive 70 was accomplished behind five birdies and 10 pars. She is three shots behind second place.

Kendall Todd came up with a big birdie on No. 5 to help her finish under par for the day with a 1-under 71. After a bogey on the 11th hole, the junior settled in and tallied two birdies and no bogeys through the rest of the back nine. Although she had two bogeys on the front, she made ground with birdies on two and five. Todd moved eight spots up the leaderboard after her performance, finishing in the top 10 with a 1-over 145 (74-71).

Reagan Zibilski turned it on when she needed to, logging back-to-back-to-back birdies on holes five, six and seven to finish with an even 72. The sophomore was 38 through the back nine, but her four birdies on the front helped her finish the front with a 34. With a 3-over 147 (75-72), Zibilski finished in a tie for 16th.

Kajal Mistry finished in a tie for 19th with a 4-over 148 (7474). Mistry was superb in the team’s first nine holes, going bogeyless while tallying two birdies for a 34 on the back. Her four bogeys on the front put her over par for the day.

Arkansas’ second women’s team, composed of individuals, started the day on the first tee. Although the team had two bogeys on the first hole, four players made birdies on No. 2. One of those players was Abbey Schutte, who made a birdie on the third hole as well. Schutte finished the round with her second consecutive 71, finishing in a tie for fifth with a 2-under 142 (71-71). On Tuesday, Schutte made four birdies and had 11 pars.

Ela Anacona, who is coming off a 68 on Monday, was 1-over par in the second round. Anacona made three birdies and 11 pars, finishing in fourth place in the field with a 3-under 141 (68-73).

Julia Gregg started the day strong with back-to-back birdies on her first two holes, finishing with three on the day along with 12 pars. She found trouble on holes four, six and 14, finishing the day with a 3-over 75. Gregg finished in a tie for 19th place with a 4-over 148 (73-75).