The Arkansas men’s golf team maintained its lead after the second round of the Blessings Collegiate Invitational, held at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville. The team posted a 1-over-par 289 on Tuesday, tying for the lowest round of the day and bringing their two-day total to 582 (+6). This performance put them seven strokes ahead of Louisville, which sits in second place at 589 (+13).
Four Arkansas players are among the top six on the individual leaderboard. John Daly II and Erich Fortlage are tied for third place at +1, just one stroke behind co-leaders Simon Kwon (BYU) and Warren Thomis (Louisville), who are both even par through two rounds. Cam Smith and Niilo Maki-Petaja are tied for sixth at +2.
Erich Fortlage overcame a rough start with bogeys on three early holes but finished strong, playing his last 11 holes without a bogey and carding birdies on four holes. “The birdie on 17 was nearly an ace and, on 18, he missed the green to the front right but chipped in for the birdie and a 1-under-par round of 71,” according to tournament organizers.
John Daly II began his round with early birdies but had some setbacks before finishing even par for the day. “He suffered bogeys on holes 11, 13 and 14 before getting back to even for the day with a birdie on the par-5 15,” as detailed by event officials.
Cam Smith led much of Tuesday’s play after recording four birdies on his front nine. He finished with a score of two-over-par after rallying with a birdie putt on his final hole. Niilo Maki-Petaja recovered from an opening double bogey to shoot an even-par round.
Gerardo Gomez improved significantly during Tuesday’s play, moving up into a tie for 22nd place after shooting a two-over-par round.
Among individual competitors representing Arkansas, Thomas Curry leads with rounds of 72 and 77 for a total score of five over par.
The tournament will conclude Wednesday with one more round remaining.
