The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Sahalee Players Championship
No. 1 Men’s Golf in second after opening day at Sahalee Players Championship
09.06.2025 | Men's Golf
Bennett is tied for the individual lead at 3-under through 36 holes, while the Longhorns are just four strokes off the team lead entering Sunday’s final round.
SAMMAMISH, Wash. — The No. 1 Texas Men's Golf team carded a two-round total of even-par 576 (288-288) on Saturday to rest in second place just four strokes off the lead after the opening day of the Sahalee Players Championship at Sahalee Country Club. Sophomore Daniel Bennett fired a 36-hole score of 3-under 141 (72-69) and is tied for the individual lead entering Sunday's final round.
Texas is playing without senior All-American Tommy Morrison, who is competing for Team USA at the Walker Cup at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, Calif. Team USA holds a 6.5-5.5 lead over Team Great Britain & Ireland after the first of two days of competition.
In Saturday's morning round, Texas counted scores from graduate Matt Comegys (1-under 71), Bennett (even-par 72), senior Christiaan Maas (even-par 72) and junior Jack Gilbert (1-over 73) to post a team round of even-par 288. During Saturday afternoon's second round, the Longhorns counted scores from Bennett (3-under 69), Maas (even-par 72), Gilbert (1-over 73) and Comegys (2-over 74) to card another round of even-par 288.
No. 12 Arizona State holds a four-stroke lead in the team standings at 4-under 572 (295-277). The Longhorns are four strokes off the lead at even-par 576, while No. 15 Pepperdine is third at 3-over 579 (295-284). The 12-team field features six squads in the top 20 of the Golf Channel Preseason Top 30.
Bennett, who earned the Phil Mickelson Award last season as the National Freshman of the Year in men's collegiate golf, is one of four players tied for the individual lead at 3-under 141 after the first 36 holes. He is joined at the top of the leaderboard by Michael Mjaaseth of Arizona State (69-72), Pepperdine's Mahanth Chirravuri (71-70) and Brady Siravo of Pepperdine (73-68). Maas is tied for eighth at even-par 144 (72-72).
The Sahalee Players Championship is set to conclude with 18 holes on Sunday, Sept. 7. Texas will be paired with Arizona State and Pepperdine in Sunday's final round, and tee times will begin at 10:37 a.m. Central (8:37 a.m. Pacific) from the 1st tee.
The Lineup
- Sophomore Daniel Bennett fired a 36-hole total of 3-under 141 (72-69) on Saturday and is in a four-way tie for the individual lead. During his afternoon round, Bennett was 1-over thru 10 holes before carding birdies at holes 11 and 13 to reach 1-under. After a bogey on 14, he rallied to make three consecutive birdies on 16, 17 and 18 to finish at 3-under.
- Senior Christiaan Maas carded a two-round score of even-par 144 (72-72) on Saturday and is tied for eighth. His morning round featured an eagle on the par-five 11th hole, while his afternoon round included seven birdies.
- Graduate Matt Comegys made his Longhorn debut and posted a 36-hole total of 1-over 145 (71-74) to rest in a tie for 13th. During his morning round, Comegys recorded three birdies (holes 3, 6 and 11) against two bogeys to register a 1-under 71.
- Junior Jack Gilbert registered a two-round score of 2-over 146 (73-73) on Saturday and is tied for 18th. During his afternoon round, Gilbert was 4-over through 15 holes but rallied to make three-straight birdies on 16, 17 and 18 to close out his 1-over 73.
- Senior Luke Potter carded a 36-hole total of 5-over 149 (74-75) and is tied for 34th. During his afternoon round, Potter was 5-over through 10 holes before making birdies on 11 and 18 and six pars to finish at 3-over 75.
- Competing as an individual, freshman Adam Villanueva made his Longhorn debut and posted a two-round score of 9-over 153 (76-77) to tie for 54th. During his afternoon round, Villanueva notched an eagle on the par-five 6th hole and made three consecutive birdies on 11, 12 and 13 before closing with five-straight pars.
Players Mentioned
