STILLWATER, Okla. — Arkansas played the challenging back nine of Karsten Creek Golf Club 5-over climbing up the leaderboard and advancing to round four of the 2018 NCAA Championship in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Sunday.
Arkansas came off the course moving up two spots to 11th overall making the first cut to the top-15 teams in the 30-team field. The Razorbacks tee it up for the final round of stroke play Monday afternoon with the top-8 teams advancing to match play. Arkansas has used third round heroics to advance in its last three events this season.
Arkansas finished the round shooting a 3-over 291. That moved them up two spots into 11th place overall with rounds of 296–289–291—876. Arkansas is just four shots back of the coveted eighth spot on the leaderboard. Duke posted a course record 12-under 276 on Sunday. The Blue Devils are in first with an 854.
Oklahoma State, playing on their home course, remains in second followed by Texas Tech, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma in the top-5.
The Razorbacks were 9-over in the first round and 7-over in round two counting some big numbers on the back side of the course in the opening days of play. Sophomore Luis Garza posted his best round of the weekend shooting a 2-under 70. Garza was 1-under on each side and birdied the 18th hole helping the Razorbacks remain in front of Clemson who is 12th overall.
William Buhl and Mason Overstreet also had their best rounds of the tournament on Sunday. Buhl was 1-under with a 71 while Overstreet was 1-over shooting 73. Buhl turned 3-under, birding his final two holes on the front side. He battled back from a misstep on No. 10 picking up birdies on Nos. 12 and 16 to finish strong for Arkansas.
Overstreet’s 73 came after he played the front side 1-under. He survived the back nine coming into the clubhouse with five consecutive par holes. Redshirt sophomore Tyson Reeder and senior Alvaro Ortiz both carded 77s. Reeder’s second round 67 allowed Arkansas to make its first move up in the standings and make today’s cut.
The Lineup
| PLACE | PLAYER | SCORE | TO PAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| T32 | Luis Garza (5) | 76–72–70—218 | +2 |
| T55 | Tyson Reeder (4) | 77–67–77—221 | +5 |
| T63 | William Buhl (2) | 72–79–71—222 | +6 |
| T75 | Alvaro Ortiz (1) | 72–74–77—223 | +7 |
| T93 | Mason Overstreet (3) | 76–76–73—225 | +9 |
