Category: Golf

Heber Springs golf team readies for conference tourney

By LARRY “SCOOP” McCARTY

The Heber Springs High School girls’ and boys’ golf teams survived the challenge of an altered schedule because of COVID-19.

The two teams are ready for the next step, the 4-4A Conference Tournament at the Morrilton Country Club Tuesday. The top two teams will advance to the state tournament.

“We played 10 matches because of COVID and weather,” Heber Springs coach Gaye Stark said. “We didn’t play multiple teams because of COVID and only competed against four conference schools all season. We hope to play well and see what happens.”

Seniors Hope Evans and Ellie Riddle lead the Lady Panthers. Freshmen Megan Bull and Macy Evans are the other two golfers.

“Hope and Ellie have been good mentors to the younger golfers,” Stark said. “They took them under their wings and showed them what they needed to do at the tournaments.”

Stark believes the team will challenge for a state tournament berth.

“Clarksville and Ozark are the teams to beat,” she said. “I’m pleased with the progress of all four golfers. We will see how it goes at the tournament.”

Senior Cooper Schalchin, sophomore Easton Cusick and freshman Ladd Choate will compete on the boys’ team.

“Cooper is the leader for the other golfers,” Stark said. “We will face tough teams at the tournament. I’m not sure how we stack up going into the tournament, but I expect us to play well.”

Razorbacks finish third at Carmel Cup

September 1, 2019

By ARKANSAS SPORTS INFORMATION

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Julian Perico fired three rounds in the 60’s to finish runner-up and Mason Overstreet carded a 66 on Sunday to tie for third as both Razorbacks had career-bests for scores in relation to par. Arkansas posted a final-round 13-under-par 347 to finish third at the Carmel Cup, played at historic Pebble Beach Golf Links (par 72 – 6,828 yards).

The -28 team score, which the Hogs posted at last year’s Carmel Cup, ties for fourth best in relation to par by a Razorback squad all time Arkansas’ score of -13 Sunday ties for the fifth best in relation to par in school history, matching the team’s second round score at Pebble Beach last season.

Texas Tech won the eight-team event with a three-round score of 1,045. Oklahoma, which led after rounds one and two, finished second (1,051), one stroke ahead of Arkansas (1,052). Rounding out the field was Georgia (1,063), TCU (1,080), Oklahoma State (1,083), Mississippi State (1,083) and Vanderbilt (1,089).

Perico finished runner-up with rounds of 68-68-67 for a 54-hole score of 203, which ranks sixth best in school history. However, Perico’s three-round total of 13-under-par ties his career best (shooting 13-under with a school-record 197 in winning the par 70 Jerry Pate Invitational last fall). The 13-under par total ties for third best in the Razorback record book. After 15 collegiate events, Perico had recorded four Top 5 finishes and 15 rounds in the 60’s.

The freshman shot a bogey-free 67 Sunday, carding four birdies on the front nine and one on the back. Like yesterday, he moved into the lead with his birdie on 12 but settled for a runner-up finish after finishing with six pars. He finished with 15 birdies and his 4.83 scoring average on the par 4’s was second best in the field for the weekend.

Overstreet, who tied for third with scores of 68-71-66 (205), carded two eagles on Sunday as he led the field in par 5 scoring (4.33) for the weekend. He finished the day with a 6-under-par 66 and ended the event at 11-under par, which is a career-best for the senior. The 11-under also ties for ninth on the Razorback all-time list in relation to par. Overstreet now has 27 career rounds in the 60’s and has posted a round of 66 or better seven times.

William Buhl climbed six spots to place 11th (tied) at -5 (71-72-67=210). Buhl, like Perico, turned in a bogey-free round of 67, posting four birdies on the front nine and one on the back. The 67 is Buhl’s best round in this his fourth trip to Pebble Beach as was his score of -6 (210). His score of -6 in relation to par is his second best while Buhl posted his 15th career Top 20 finish.

Tyson Reeder finished in a tie for 17th with a 2-under-par total of 214 (73-67-74). Dating back to last season, Reeder has finished an event under par in three of his last five tournaments. Luis Garza tied for 33rd (73-74-73=220) and Mauricio Figueroa was 42nd (79-78-75=241).

The Razorbacks return to action in seven days, playing in the annual Gopher Invitational Aug. 8-9. The Razorbacks have won the event twice and William Buhl is defending individual medalist.

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Golf, follow @RazorbackMGolf on Twitter.

Three Hogs in Top 10 at Carmel Cup

August 31, 2019

By ARKANSAS SPORTS INFORMATION

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – For the second consecutive day, Arkansas sophomore Julian Perico fired a 4-under-par 68 while senior Tyson Reeder carded a bogey-free, 5-under 67 at the Carmel Cup, played at Pebble Beach Golf Links (par 72 – 6,828 yards). The Razorbacks were 8-under in round two and stand in third place with a 36-hole score of 705 (-15).

Oklahoma holds the lead after two rounds, shooting a 10-under 350 Saturday and stands at 21-under (699) through 36 holes. Texas Tech turned in the best round of the day (-17) and moved up one spot to second with a score of 701. The Razorbacks (-15) and Georgia (-6) are the only teams under par after two days.

Perico is one stroke out of the lead after posting his second straight 68. He shared the lead most of the back nine after recording birdies on holes 10, 11 and 12. He finished his round with six straight pars and leader Garrett Reband (Oklahoma) had a birdie on the 17th hole to take the one-stroke lead. Overall, Perico had five birdies and leads the field on par 4 scoring with an average of 3.80.

Reeder was the big mover for the Razorbacks Saturday, climbing 11 spots into a tie for 10th thanks to his bogey-free round of 67. The senior got off to a strong start with an eagle on the par 5, second hole. He then birdied the fourth hole. He added birdies on holes 10 and 13 and finished with 14 pars. He has 26 pars through 36 holes – the third-best total in the field. Reeder, like Perico, is one of the field’s best playing the par 4’s with a scoring average of 3.85.

Mason Overstreet used four birdies to shoot a 1-under-par 71 Saturday. He remains in the top 10 with a 36-hole score of 5-under-par 139.

William Buhl offset four bogeys with four birdies for an even-par round of 72. He is in 17t place with a 36-hole total of 143 (-1). Luis Garza turned in a 2-over-par 74, collecting 16 pars and two bogeys on the day. Despite being tied for 29th place standing, Garza leads the field with 28 pars through 36 holes. Freshman Mauricio Figueroa is tied for 46th (79-79-158).

The third and final round will be played Sunday (Sept. 1).

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Golf, follow @RazorbackMGolf on Twitter.

Golden Suns picked to Win Sixth Straight Title

August 29, 2019

By ARKANSAS TECH SPORTS INFORMATION

RUSSELLVILLE – Arkansas Tech has been voted the favorite to win the 2019 GAC Women’s Golf Championship, the league announced on Thursday through the preseason coaches’ poll.

The Golden Suns have won the previous five conference championships, the most recent with a come-from-behind win over Southwestern Oklahoma State. Allie Weiner used a career-best 67 in Round 3 to earn the first place individual finish. Jacqueline Klemm, WGCA National Freshman of the year and GAC Freshman of the Year tied for third place with GAC Women’s Golfer of the Year, Peerada Piddon. Pia Nunbhakdi and Sydney Staton finished in ties for fifth and seventh place, respectively.

Tech took second at the NCAA Central Region Championships in their seventh consecutive appearance at the tournament. Piddon won the individual title with her total card of 216. Klemm finished fourth and Nunbhakdi tied for ninth. The team advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championships for the fifth time in six years and concluded their season with a 10th-place finish.

The 2019-2020 Golden Suns return seven golfers from last year’s roster, including Klemm, Weiner and Staton. Klemm is the first golfer in program history to receive WGCA Division II Freshman of the Year after averaging 74.77 strokes and notching four top 10 finishes in her first season as Golden Sun.  She was named a Division II All-America Honorable Mention and All-Central Region Team by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association. 

Weiner, Staton Makenzie Douglas were named WGCA All-American Scholars. Staton was also named to the All-Central Region Team and All-GAC Second Team.

Six-time GAC Coach of The Year and reigning Division II Golf Pride Central Region Coach of the Year Amy Anderson also welcomes two newcomers to the team, Patranit Chuaychoo from Thailand and Josie Roberson from Maumelle.

The Golden Suns open the 2019-20 season on Sept 23 with the two day Dallas Baptist Invitational at the Robson Ranch Golf Club in Denton, Texas.

Wonder Boys picked First in GAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

August 29, 2019

By ARKANSAS TECH SPORTS INFORMATION

RUSSELLVILLE – Arkansas Tech men’s golf has been unanimously voted as the favorite to win the Great American Conference in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the league announced Monday. The Wonder Boys garnered 81 points, along with 9 first place votes. Henderson State came in second with 66 and Southern Arkansas at third with 65 points and one first place vote.

The 2018-19 Wonder Boys advanced to the NCAA Championship quarterfinal for the third consecutive year after capturing their second GAC Championship and finishing fourth at the Midwest/Central Region Championships. 

Arkansas Tech returns all five golfers that played in NCAA National Championships last season, including two Division II PING All-American honorable mention selections, Austin Gean and Shawn Tsai.  Gean averaged a team best 73.13 strokes last season and finished in the top-10 of two tournaments. Tsai averaged 73.50 and earned four top 10 finishes.

Four-time GAC Coach of the Year Luke Calcatera also welcomes back Andre Jacobs, the GAC individual medalist and his brother Francois, who took third. Gean and Tsai finished inside the top-11 at the NCAA Championships. Jackson Marseilles, who won GAC Freshman of the Year in the 2017-2018 season, also returns for the 2019-2020 season.

Arkansas Tech opens the 2019-2020 season in Tahlequah, Okla., as the Wonder Boys compete in the two-day Northeastern State Classic at the Muskogee Golf Club on Monday, Sept. 16.

Pollock promoted to A-State Women’s Golf Assistant

August 26, 2019

By ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

JONESBORO – A graduate assistant the last two seasons, Rachel Pollock has been promoted to assistant coach for the Arkansas State women’s golf program, head coach M.J. Desbiens Shaw announced Monday.

“It is an amazing time to have Rachel Pollock back for a third year,” Desbiens Shaw said. “As a coach, you always try to find your best assistant and that’s what we have with Rachel. She has brought a tremendous amount of golf knowledge to our team, she has so much enthusiasm to share and has made such an impact on our course management so far. I could not be happier with such a great assistant and I look forward to a very successful season.”

Pollock helped guide the Red Wolves to their best three-round score (889) ever at the Sun Belt Conference Championship, which was also their best in any tournament since at least the 2000-01 season. The total included the second lowest single-round score of the season, a 294 for in the second round of the league championship.

“First, I would like to thank M.J., (Athletics Director) Terry Mohajir and (Senior Women’s Administrator) Amy Holt for all of their support and opportunity to return to this program as assistant coach,” Pollock said. “I look forward to continuing to help build a successful program on the golf course and in the classroom.”

Her first season at A-State saw the Red Wolves place fifth at the Sun Belt Conference Championships to match their best finish at the tournament since 2003-04. A-State posted a 305.4 team stroke average that was its top mark since at least before the 2002-03 season.

Pollock came to the program after spending four seasons competing for East Tennessee State University. Playing in all but five events in her college career with the Buccaneers, Pollock recorded a career‐best‐three‐round total of 5‐over 221 (74‐73‐74) at the Fall Invitational hosted by Kennesaw State in the fall of 2015.

Pollock helped the Buccaneers to two wins and 18 top‐five finishes in her four seasons. She graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors while earning her B.S. in Physical Education with a concentration in Exercise Science and a minor in Coaching from East Tennessee State University in 2017.

The Canadian native finished 12th on Golf Canada’s 2016‐17 Order of Merit and eighth on the 2011‐12 Junior Order of Merit. She is bilingual in French and English.

A-State opens the 2019-20 season on Sept. 9 at the Payne Stewart Memorial in Springfield, Mo. A-State will host the Lady Red Wolves Classic Oct. 14-15 at Sage Meadows Golf Club.

Razorbacks Second after Opening Round at Carmel Cup

August 30, 2019

By MIKE CAWOOD/Arkansas Sports Information

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – The Arkansas men’s golf team opened the 2019-20 season with a 7-under-par round of 353 to stand in second place at the Carmel Cup, played at historic Pebble Beach Golf Links (par 72 – 6,928 yards). Mason Overstreet, who carded a bogey-free round of 68, is tied with teammate Julian Perico for third at 4-under par.

Oklahoma leads the eight-team field with a score of 349, followed by the Razorbacks, Texas Tech (358), Georgia (364), Oklahoma State (365), Mississippi State (370), Vanderbilt (371) and TCU (373). The annual event is different from most collegiate tournaments in that each team in the Carmel Cup has six players with the best five scores counting for each round. Most collegiate events have five players with the best four scores counting.

Perico finished with six birdies, tying for the second-best total of the day. He began the day with two birdies but fell back to even par with bogeys on holes 8 and 9. However, the sophomore bounced back with a birdie on hole 10 while adding birdies on holes 13, 14 and 18 for his 4-under-par 68.

Overstreet opened with a par before reeling off three straight birdies and ultimately posting four birdies over a five-hole span (holes 2, 3, 4 and 6). He would finish his round with 12 straight pars for his 4-under 68. Overall, Overstreet’s 14 pars were the third-best total on the day.

Also recording 14 pars on Friday was William Buhl. The senior is tied for 11th after posting a 71 with to three birdies.

Luis Garza and Tyson Reeder are tied for 21st, each shooting a 1-over 73. Garza did post one of the two eagles on the day, recording a three on the 511-yard, par-5 second hole.

Freshman Mauricio Figueroa made his collegiate debut. While he shot a 79 to stand in a tie for 42nd, he recorded 13 pars to rank fifth-best among the field in round one.

Round two of three will be played Saturday (August 31).

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Golf, follow @RazorbackMGolf on Twitter.

Clarksville takes Top Honors at Three-Team Match

August 16, 2019

CLARKSVILLE – Clarksville took home first-place honors in a three-team match at the Clarksville Country Club.

Boys Team Scoring: Clarskville (130), Russellville (143) and Pottsville (154).

Clarskville boys results: Braden Payne (41) (Medalist honors); Cole Clark (43) (Second overall); Braxton Payne (46) (Fourth overall); John Foster Case (50); and Isaac Chappell (56).

Girls Team Scoring: Clarksville (142), Russellville (151) while Pottsville did not have a team score.

Clarksville Girls Results: Parker Banning (46) (Tied for medalist honors); Morgan Douglas (47) (3rd); Abby Domerese (49) (5th); Emily Qualls (53) (6th).

Source: Clarksville High School Golf Facebook Page

Clarksville splits Dual Golf Meet with Russellville

August 19, 2019

Clarksville split a pair of high school golf matches with Russellville at the Russellville Country Club.

Clarksville defeated Russellville, 130-141, in senior boys play, while Russellville won the senior girls match.

Braden Payne and Cole Clark tied for medalist honors by shooting 42. Braxton Payne shot a 46 while John Foster Case and Isaac Chappell each shot at 51.

For the Panther girls, Abby Domerese shot a 54, Emily Qualls a 65, Parker Banning a 57 and Morgan Douglas a 61.

Source: Clarksville High School Golf Facebook Page

The 2019 Heber Springs High School Golf Schedule

August 16, 2019

The 2019 Heber Springs High School Boys and Girls Golf Schedule

  • August 8 at Red Apple Inn
  • August 15 at Red Apple Inn
  • August 20 at Tannenbaum, 3:30 p.m.
  • August 22 at Mountain Ranch, 3:30 p.m.
  • August 28 at Centennial Valley (Conway), 3:30 p.m.
  • August 29 at Red Apple Inn, 1 p.m.
  • September 5 at Red Apple Inn, 1 p.m.
  • September 9 at Cypress Creek (Cabot), 1 p.m.
  • September 16 at Searcy Country Club, 3:30 p.m.
  • September 17 at Greystone (Cabot), 3:30 p.m.
  • September 19 at Red Apple Inn, 1 p.m.
  • September 23 at Red Apple Inn, TBA
  • September 24 at Red Apple Inn, TBA
  • September 30 at 4A Girls State at Harrison
  • October 1 at 4A Girls State at Harrison
  • October 7 at 4A Boys State at Red Apple Inn
  • October 8 at 4A Boys State at Red Apple Inn