Tag: Mississippi State

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.

Deifel announces addition of Assistant Coach Annie Smith

August 30, 2019

By JESSICA ROBERSON/Arkansas Sports Information

FAYETTEVILLE – Head softball coach Courtney Deifel continues to improve the Razorback staff with the recent addition of Annie Smith as a volunteer assistant. Smith comes to Fayetteville after stints at Auburn, LSU, Georgia Southern, Mississippi State and Missouri.

“I am thrilled to add Annie Smith to our staff,” Deifel said. “Not only is she a great coach, she is also an exceptional person. Annie is very well versed in what it takes to be successful in the SEC and her impact will be immediate.”

Since she began her career, Smith has coached eight All-Americans, 56 All-Conference selections and 41 All-Region honorees. Her squads have been equally as impressive in the classroom, garnering 123 NFCA Academic Scholar-Athlete honors.

Smith also boasts professional experience, as she was an assistant coach for the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) in 2017.

Before rejoining the SEC, Smith served as the head coach at Georgia Southern, where she complied 176 wins and reached the NCAA Tournament twice. Smith and the Eagles captured the Southern Conference title in 2012 and in 2014. The Eagles also won the conference tournament in 2012 and 2013. For her efforts, Smith was honored as the conference’s coach of the year in 2012 and 2014.

“I am very thankful for the opportunity to join Coach Deifel and her staff at the University of Arkansas,” said Smith. “I am looking forward to calling Fayetteville home, continuing to coach in the SEC, while being closer to my parents. I cannot wait to get started. Wooo Pig!”

Smith currently stands as the quickest coach in Georgia Southern history to 100 wins, while her teams rewrote the record books for home runs, doubles and fielding percentage. She was instrumental in the development of the three-time conference pitcher of the year and the two-time freshman of the year in the league.

Before Georgia Southern, she spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Mississippi State before being promoted to associate head coach following the 2007 season. The Manhattan, Kan. native helped the Bulldogs to 295 victories and six NCAA Regional appearances. She worked with three USA Softball National Team members and the back-to-back SEC Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004.

Smith received her bachelor’s degree in history and psychology from Grinnell College where she was a captain on the softball team. She went on to earn a master’s degree from Missouri in health and exercise science with an emphasis in sports psychology.

For all Razorback softball news and information, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com and follow the Hogs on Twitter at @RazorbackSB, on Facebook at Razorback Softball and on Instagram at @Razorback_SB. Fans can also follow head coach Courtney Deifel on twitter at @CoachDeifel.

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.