The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Valspar Collegiate Invitational
No. 2 Men’s Golf in the lead after opening day at Valspar Collegiate Invitational
03.24.2025 | Men's Golf
Bennett tied for second individually at 11-under and two strokes off the lead through 36 holes.
PALM CITY, Fla. — The No. 2 Texas Men's Golf team carded a impressive two-round total of 25-under par 543 (271-272) on Monday to hold an eight-stroke lead after the opening day of the Valspar Collegiate Invitational at the Floridian National Golf Club. Freshman Daniel Bennett fired a 36-hole total of 11-under 131 (64-67) and is tied for second in the individual standings, just two shots off the lead.
In Monday's morning round, Texas counted scores from Bennett (collegiate-best 7-under 64), sophomore Jack Gilbert (collegiate-best 4-under 67), junior Tommy Morrison (1-under 70) and junior Christiaan Maas (1-under 70) to post a team round of 13-under 271. During Monday afternoon's second round, the Longhorns counted scores from Bennett (4-under 67), Gilbert (3-under 68), Morrison (3-under 68) and Maas (2-under 69) to card a 12-under 272.
The Longhorns hold an eight-stroke lead in the team standing entering Tuesday's final 18 holes. No. 3 Arizona State is second at 17-under 551 (278-273), and No. 7 Oklahoma is third at 13-under 555 (282-273). The 17-team field features the top three teams in the country and 11 squads in the top 25 of the latest Scoreboard powered by Clippd poll (Mar. 19).
Oklahoma's Jase Summy holds the individual lead after the first 36 holes with a 13-under 129 (65-64). Bennett and David Ford of North Carolina (68-63) are tied for second at 11-under 131. Gilbert is tied for fifth with a two-round score of 7-under 135 (67-68).
The Valspar Collegiate Invitational is set to conclude with 18 holes on Tuesday, Mar. 25. Texas will be paired with Arizona State, Oklahoma and No. 1 Auburn in Tuesday's final round, and tee times will begin at 7:30 a.m. Central (8:30 a.m. Eastern) with a shotgun start.
The Lineup
- Freshman Daniel Bennett posted a 36-hole total of 11-under 131 (64-67) on Monday and is tied for second in the individual standings, just two strokes behind the leader. Starting his opening round on the second hole, Bennett registered birdies on holes 5, 7, 9, 12 and 13 before adding an eagle on the par-five 15th hole to climb to 7-under in his round. After a bogey on 18, he closed his morning round with a birdie on 1 to finish with a career-low 18-hole score of 7-under 64 (previous was 5-under 65 in the opening round of the Ben Hogan Collegiate on Sept. 30). Bennett returned in the afternoon and tallied six birdies against a pair of bogeys to record a 4-under 67.
- Sophomore Jack Gilbert carded a two-round score of 7-under 135 (67-68) on Monday and is tied for fifth. Starting his opening round on the fourth hole, Gilbert tallied six birdies en route to a career-low 18-hole score of 4-under 67 (previous was 2-under 68 in the second round of the Ben Hogan Collegiate on Sept. 30). He returned in the afternoon and registered four birdies against one bogey to record a 3-under 68.
- Junior Tommy Morrison fired a 36-hole total of 4-under 138 (70-68) on Monday and is tied for 16th place. In his afternoon round, Morrison posted a clean slate with three birdies (holes 5, 9 and 15) without a bogey to record a 3-under 68.
- Junior Christiaan Maas carded a two-round total of 3-under 139 (70-69) on Monday and is tied for 21st. He registered four birdies during his morning round of 1-under 70 and returned to post six birdies during his afternoon round of 2-under 69.
- Junior Luke Potter posted a 36-hole total of 1-over 143 (73-70) on Monday and is tied for 43rd. He recorded six birdies during his afternoon round of 1-under 70.
Players Mentioned
