The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Southern Highlands Collegiate
No. 15 Men’s Golf preview: Southern Highlands Collegiate
02.25.2023 | Men's Golf
The Longhorns compete at Southern Highlands Golf Club in Las Vegas on Sunday through Tuesday.
When: Sunday, Feb. 26 – Tuesday, Feb. 28
Format: 18 holes of stroke play on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Where: Southern Highlands Golf Club (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Course Info: Par-72; 7,510 yards
Live Scoring: https://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=team&tid=26661
Last Time Out: The Longhorns claimed a 4-1-1 victory against No. 11 Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) at Hapuna Golf Course (Kamuela, Hawaii). Texas and Georgia Tech were two of 20 teams who originally came to Hawaii to participate in the Amer Ari Invitational on Feb. 8-10, but the tourney was canceled due to high winds. Official match-play competitions were organized for Texas-Georgia Tech and Texas Tech-North Carolina. The Longhorns received individual match wins from Travis Vick, Christiaan Maas, Jacob Sosa and Tommy Morrison.
Impressive Start to the Spring: Texas earned a wire-to-wire victory at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) at North Ranch Country Club (Westlake Village, Calif.). The Longhorns posted a three-round total of 14-under-par 850 (270-290-290) to win by 13 strokes over runner-up and tourney host No. 15 Pepperdine at 1-under-par 863, while No. 5 Arizona State was third at 4-over-par 868. Keaton Vo placed second individually at 8-under-par 208 (67-71-70), just one stroke behind medalist Michael Brennan of Wake Forest at 9-under-par 207. Jacob Sosa, who posted a school-record 18-hole score of 11-under-par 61 in the opening round, finished in third place at 7-under-par 209 (61-74-74), and Christiaan Maas tied for fifth at 4-under-par 212 (68-70-74).
A Round for the Ages: Freshman Jacob Sosa began the spring season with a school-record 18-hole score of 11-under-par 61 in the opening round of the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30) at North Ranch Country Club. The 61 eclipsed the previous school record of 63 set by four players previously, including Gavin Hall (2016 Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate third round), Brandon Stone (2012 Carpet Capital Collegiate second round), David Gossett (2000 NCAA Championship first round) and Justin Leonard (1994 NCAA Championship third round). Sosa recorded three eagles and five birdies without a bogey during his round. His score of 61 also was a tournament and course record and the lowest 18-hole round ever played at North Ranch Country Club.
Defending National Champs: Texas claimed its fourth NCAA team title in program history last year with a dramatic 3-2 victory over tourney host Arizona State in the championship match (Scottsdale, Ariz.). The Longhorns have captured NCAA team championships in 1971, 1972, 2012 and 2022.
15 Straight: UT's streak of 15 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances is the longest current streak in NCAA Division I men's golf. Here's a look at the longest active NCAA Championship appearances entering the 2022-23 season.
|
Number of Consecutive NCAA Champ Appearances |
School |
|
15 |
TEXAS |
|
11 |
Oklahoma |
|
9 |
Oklahoma State |
|
8 |
Vanderbilt |
|
7 |
Arizona State |
Advancing to Match Play: Not only has Texas been a consistent force in advancing to the NCAA Championships, the Longhorns have produced solid results while at the national championship. In the last 10 opportunities (dating back to the 2012 NCAA Championships), UT has advanced to the Match Play quarterfinals stage (final eight teams) a total of SEVEN times. Texas is the only school to advance to Match Play at least SEVEN times in the last 10 opportunities (2020 tourney was canceled due to COVID-19).
|
NCAA Match Play Appearances in Last 10 Tournaments (2012-22) |
School |
|
7 (2012-13-15-16-18-19-22) |
TEXAS |
|
6 (2016-17-18-19-21-22) |
Oklahoma |
|
6 (2014-17-18-19-21-22) |
Oklahoma State |
|
6 (2015-16-17-19-21-22) |
Vanderbilt |
The Fields Factor: Now in his 26th season as head coach at Texas, John Fields has guided the Longhorns to 20 NCAA Championship appearances in his 24 opportunities (no NCAA tourney in 2020 due to COVID-19). Under Fields' leadership, UT has posted 10 top-five finishes at the NCAA Championship, including NCAA team titles in 2012 and 2022 and runner-up showings in 2016 and 2019. Prior to his time at Texas, Fields led the University of New Mexico to nine NCAA Championship appearances in 10 seasons (1988-97). Fields was named Golfweek's Men's National Coach of the Year last season for the third time during his time in Austin (2012, 2016 and 2022). He also has claimed Big 12 Coach of the Year accolades nine times during his 25-year tenure at Texas (2002, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2022).
Team Rankings: Texas is No. 15 in the latest Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches poll (Feb. 10).
The Tourney Field: The 15-team field at the Southern Highlands Collegiate includes (rankings reflect Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches poll): No. 3 North Carolina, No. 7 Florida, No. 9 Illinois, No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 11 Georgia Tech, No. 12 Oklahoma, No. 15 TEXAS, No. 16 Pepperdine, No. 21 San Diego State, Georgia, New Mexico, SMU, TCU, UCF and host UNLV.
The Texas Lineup: UT will be represented by the following six players at the Southern Highlands Collegiate:
- Brian Stark (Gr., 74.33 avg.)
- Christiaan Maas (Fr., 70.38 avg.)
- Keaton Vo (Fr., 72.46 avg.)
- Jacob Sosa (Fr., 72.33 avg.)
- Travis Vick (Sr., 72.23 avg.)
Individual) Tommy Morrison (Fr.)
Inside the Texas Lineup
Brian Stark: No. 39 in current World Amateur Golf Rankings (Feb. 22) … made his debut in a Longhorn uniform at the Southwestern Invitational … graduate transfer who spent his previous three seasons at Oklahoma State … No. 16 in the current PGA TOUR University class of 2023 rankings (Feb. 22) … earned third-team All-America honors as a junior in 2022 from both the GCAA and Golfweek … two-time GCAA All-America Scholar (as a sophomore and junior) … claimed All-Big 12 and Academic All-Big 12 honors as a junior … tied for 15th at the 2022 NCAA Championship at 6-over-par 286 … had a season-best tie for third place at The Carmel Cup at 5-under-par 211 (73-70-68) in 2021-22 … also placed 13th at the Big 12 Championship and tied for seventh at the NCAA Columbus Regional in his junior year … first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection as a sophomore in 2020-21 … advanced to the quarterfinals of match play at the 2021 U.S. Amateur.
Christiaan Maas: Has competed in each of UT's first seven events and leads the team with a 70.38 stroke average … No. 26 in current World Amateur Golf Rankings (Feb. 22) … named to the 2023 Ben Hogan Award watch list (Jan. 27) … member of the Golf RSA (South Africa) National squad … posted a 2&1 win over Christo Lamprecht in the match-play event against Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) … tied for fifth at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) with a 4-under-par 212 (68-70-74) … tied for 17th at the DP World Tour's Alfred Dunhill Championship (Dec. 8-11) in Melalane, South Africa with a 9-under-par 279 (71-70-70-68) … played alongside Ernie Els in the opening two rounds at the Alfred Dunhill Championship … also made the cut and tied for 35th at the DP World Tour's Investec South African Open Championship (Dec. 1-4) in Johannesburg at 5-under-par 283 (69-65-72-77) … tallied a 3-2 individual record at the Big 12 Match Play Championship (Oct. 17-19) … in his second collegiate tournament, tied for third at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational (Oct. 3-4) with a 6-under-par 204 (70-67-67) … finished 12th at The Stephens Cup (Oct. 10-12) at 4-under-par 212 (69-71-72) … in his collegiate debut, tied for 20th at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational (Sept. 16-18) at 4-over-par 214 (72-72-70) … competed for South Africa in the prestigious 2022 World Amateur Team Championship (Aug. 31-Sept. 3) in Paris … advanced to Match Play at the 2022 U.S. Amateur … tied for 11th in stroke play at the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur … claimed a five-shot victory (65-70-67-68=270, -14) to win the prestigious Brabazon Trophy at Saunton Golf Club in England in May 2022 … posted six wins during the 2021 season, including the Cape Province Open and the South African Amateur Championship … 2020 and 2021 Silver Salver Champion.
Keaton Vo: Has competed in each of UT's first seven events … earned a collegiate-best second-place individual finish at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) at 8-under-par 208 (67-71-70) … tallied a career-low 18-hole score of 5-under-par 67 in the opening round of the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30) … tied for fourth in the stroke-play portion of the East Lake Cup (Oct. 24) with a 2-under-par 70 … posted a 4-0-1 individual record at the Big 12 Match Play Championship (Oct. 17-19) … medalist at the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur with a 36-hole score of 9-under-par 134 (69-65) … 2022 Texas Class 5A state individual champion and led Anderson High School to the team championship … tabbed the No. 1 recruit in the state of Texas and No. 7 nationally by the AJGA in the class of 2022 … three-time Rolex Junior All-American … member of the West Team at the 2020 Wyndham Cup … registered seven top-10 finishes on the AJGA Tour, including a tie for second at the 2021 Jackie Burke Invitational … won individual titles at the 2020 George Hannon Junior Invitational and the 2019 AJGA Junior All-Star Invitational at Lake Oconee.
Jacob Sosa: Has competed in five of UT's first seven events … posted a 1-up victory over Connor Howe in the match-play event against Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) … earned a collegiate-best third-place individual finish at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) at 7-under-par 209 (61-74-74) … set a UT program record for low 18-hole score with an 11-under-par 61 in the opening round of the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30) … had three eagles, five birdies and no bogeys during that round … in his collegiate debut, tied for 31st at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational (Sept. 16-18) at 6-over-par 216 (74-72-70) … led Austin Westlake High School to three consecutive Texas Class 6A state team titles (no tourney in 2020 due to COVID) … posted individual finishes of third, runner-up and tied for fifth during his three state championship tournaments … tabbed the No. 3 recruit in the state of Texas and No. 14 nationally by the AJGA in the class of 2022 … first-team Rolex Junior All-American in 2021 … member of the West Team at the 2021 Wyndham Cup … placed third at the 2020 Texas State Amateur and earned the win at the 2019 Texas State Junior Championship.
Travis Vick: Has competed in each of UT's first seven events and ranks second on the team with a 72.23 stroke average … No. 8 in current World Amateur Golf Rankings (Feb. 22) … No. 6 in the current PGA TOUR University class of 2023 rankings (Feb. 22) … named to the 2023 Ben Hogan Award watch list (Jan. 27) … three-time All-American … low amateur at the 2022 U.S. Open (70-69-76-73=288, +8) … semifinalist at the 2022 Western Amateur … one of 12 men's players who competed for the American squad at the 2022 Arnold Palmer Cup (July 1-3 in Vandoeuvres, Switzerland) … posted a 1-up win over Ross Steelman in the match-play event against Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) … tallied a 3-1-1 individual record at the Big 12 Match Play Championship (Oct. 17-19) … earned a 3&2 win against Texas Tech's Ludvig Aberg (current No. 1 in WAGR) at Big 12 Match Play … placed ninth at The Stephens Cup (Oct. 10-12) at 6-under-par 210 (69-72-69) … claimed a 1-up victory over Stanford's Michael Thorbjornsen (current No. 2 in WAGR) during the third-place match at The Stephens Cup … earned second-team All-America honors during his junior season in 2022 (Golfweek, GCAA) … posted a team-best 70.84 stroke average and registered three top-five, six top-10 and nine top-20 individual finishes in 12 stroke-play events during the 2021-22 season … went 2-1 during the 2022 NCAA Match Play, including a 4&3 win over Reid Davenport (Vanderbilt) in the semifinals and registered the clinching 1-up victory against Arizona State's Cameron Sisk in the final … collegiate-best second-place individual finish at the 2022 NCAA Norman Regional (May 16-18) at 10-under-par 206 (67-67-72) … semifinalist at the 2021 U.S. Amateur … 2021 honorable mention All-American (Golfweek, GCAA) … 2020 honorable mention All-American (Golfweek).
Tommy Morrison: Playing as an individual this week … made his collegiate debut in the match against Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) and earned a 2&1 victory over Ben Reuter … enrolled at Texas prior to the start of the spring 2023 semester … posted a runner-up showing in the 2022 North & South Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2 in July … finished fourth in the inaugural Elite Amateur Cup after competing in six of the seven championships (series features the Sunnehanna Amateur, Northeast Amateur, Trans-Miss Amateur, Southern Amateur, Pacific Coast Amateur, North & South Amateur and the Western Amateur) … paired with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and shot a best-ball score of 9-under-par 63 (Oct. 11) at Winter Creek Golf Club in Blanchard, Okla., to tie for medalist honors and earn a qualifying spot for the 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship (set for May 20-24 at Kiawah's Ocean Course) … placed fourth at the 2022 Junior Orange Bowl International … tied for sixth at the 2021 Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship … won the 2020 Southern Junior championship.
Players Mentioned
