Perico has strong start on first day at NCAA Championships

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas freshman Julian Perico carded an opening-round, 1-under-par 71 and stands in a tie for sixth place after the first day of the 2019 NCAA Championship, played at Blessings Golf Club (par 72, 7,550 yards).

Cal’s Collin Morikawa is the first-round leader (5-under, 67). Three players are tied for second at -3, followed by Stanford’s Isaiah Salinda in fifth at -2 and six players, including Perico, tied for fifth at -1.

This was Perico’s 18th time to shoot in the par of better this season and his sixth time over his last eight rounds.

Perico played with two other individual qualifiers and the trio was in first place and tied for second heading into the 18th hole. Utah’s Kyler Dunkle had a par on the final hole and was the clubhouse leader with a 3-under-par 69.

Perico and Western Kentucky’s Billy Tom Sargent each had a bogey on the final hole and were tied for sixth with a 1-under-par 71 when they completed play.

“It is always disappointing bogey the last hole,” Perico said. “I don’t think I played my best but a 71 on this course is always good. I should be in good position after everyone is done today. Some of the best players in the country are here so being in contention after day one is good.”

Perico’s and his playing partners all led at various points during their round.

“How great was that,” said Arkansas coach Brad McMakin. “To have those three guys play a combined 5-under par – on this course – is phenomenal. It was fun to watch. They really fed off each other and the crowd following them.”

Perico got off to a hot start with birdies on holes 2, 3 and 6. He dropped a shot on hole 9 and fell to 1-under after a bogey on the par-3 15th.

Perico responded with a par on 14, a birdie on 15 and made two great runs at birdie on holes 16 and 17 before settling for par on both. He finished with a bogey on the par-4 18th to finish at 69.

“I was cruising a little when I got back to 2-under,” Perico said. “I only had two three putts and unfortunately one was on 18. My short game was sharp and I putted really good today. It just got sloppy at certain points. The way I played I should have shot lower.”

Perico, Sargent and Dunkle will tee off at 2:22 pm on Saturday and start on the 10th hole. Admission and parking are free to the 2019 NCAA Championship at Blessings Golf Club.