The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA South Central Regional Championship
Men's Golf in second place through first day at NCAA Fayetteville Regional
05.16.2013 | Men's Golf
May 16, 2013
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Junior Toni Hakula and senior Cody Gribble paced the top-seeded Texas Men's Golf team with a pair of under-par opening rounds to lead the Longhorns to second place after Thursday's round in the NCAA Fayetteville Regional at Blessings Golf Club. Hakula fired a 3-under 69 and finished the day tied for fifth place, while Gribble is one back and tied for seventh.
The low five teams and the low individual not on those teams from each of the six regional sites will earn bids to compete at the 2013 NCAA Men's Golf Championship from May 28-June 2 at Capital City Club, Crabapple Course in Atlanta, Ga., hosted by Georgia Tech.
Playing in the first group, Hakula started off hot with a birdie on the opening hole and remained at 1-under through his first five. His only bogey came on the par-4, 418-yard sixth hole where he sank a 20-footer to prevent a double. Hakula found back-to-back birdies on Nos. 9 and 10 and added a fourth on the par-3 17th when he made a two footer.
Like Hakula, Gribble birdied the first hole, but gave the stroke back three holes later. Two more birdies on Nos. 7 and 10 put him at 2-under. Gribble's second bogey came on the difficult par-5, 580-yard 12th hole where his approach shot barely flew over the green, rolled back towards the flagstick and caught the downhill slope rolling down the steep hill protecting the front of the green. He birdied the 16th hole and closed with back-to-back pars to sign for a 70.
Freshman Brandon Stone put together a spectacular four-hole closing stretch for an even-par round. After a triple bogey on No. 14 to push his score to +4, Stone went birdie-eagle-par-birdie to finish the day at 72 and tied for 12th place.
Sophomore Kramer Hickok notched three birdies and five bogeys for a 74, and senior Julio Vegas rounded out the Texas contingent with a 78. Hickok and Vegas are tied for 25th and 52nd places, respectively.
Illinois took the first-round lead with a 6-under 282. Oklahoma State (286), Kent State (288) and host Arkansas (290) round out the top-five teams.
Texas, Illinois and Oklahoma State are set to begin Friday's second round on the first tee beginning at 9:10 a.m. Central.
NCAA Fayetteville Regional
Blessing Golf Club (par 72 - 7,251 yards)
First-round Team Leaderboard
1. Illinois - 282 (-6)
2. TEXAS - 285 (-3)
3. Oklahoma State - 286 (-2)
4. Kent State - 288 (E)
5. Arkansas - 290 (+2)
6. Colorado - 292 (+4)
7. SMU - 297 (+9)
8. UNCW - 300 (+12)
T9. Liberty - 303 (+15)
T9. Tulsa - 303 (+15)
T9. UMKC - 303 (+15)
12. Kentucky - 304 (+16)
13. Indiana - 307 (+19)
14. Alabama State - 313 (+25)
First-round Player Leaderboard
1. Charlie Danielson, Illinois - 65 (-7)
T2. Corey Conners, Kent State - 67 (-5)
T2. Jordan Niebrugge, Oklahoma State - 67 (-5)
4. Thomas Detry, Illinois - 68 (-4)
T5. Toni Hakula, TEXAS - 69 (-3)
T5. Mitchell McLeroy, Stephen F. Austin - 69 (-3)
T7. Cody Gribble, TEXAS - 70 (-2)
T7. Mario Clemens, SMU - 70 (-2)
T9. David Oraee, Colorado - 71 (-1)
T9. Taylor Pendrith, Kent State - 71 (-1)
Additional Texas Players
T11. Brandon Stone - 72 (E)
T25. Kramer Hickok - 74 (+2)
T52. Julio Vegas - 78 (+6)
Post-round Quotes
Texas Head Coach John Fields
On the difficulty of Blessing Golf Club: You have to pay attention to every hole on this golf course. There is no let up, and it's very difficult all around. Every hole has danger associated with it, and it's very, very tough.
On today's performance: I like how we finished today. We never quit, and we just kept rolling along.
