The Texas men’s golf team wrapped up its first tournament of the 2015–2016 season at the Fighting Illini Invitational in Chicago on Sunday. The Longhorns took eighth place out of 15 teams, posting 868 (+28).
Texas got off to a slow start in Round 1, with only sophomore Doug Ghim breaking par with a two-under 68. Senior Tayler Termeer fired a respectable two-over 72, and Texas sat in 11th place at 10-over after 18 holes. In Round 2, the Longhorns turned in another 10-over performance, which was good enough to move them into a tie for seventh at 20-over after 36 holes. No Texas player was able to break par, but junior Gavin Hall led the way with an even par 70. Ghim and fellow sophomore Scottie Scheffler turned in scores of 71 and 73, respectively.
Texas went 8-over on the final day. Highlights from the final round for the Longhorns included an even-par 70 for Ghim, putting him at one-under (209) for the tournament and in a tie for sixth in the individual standings. Scheffler also shot 70 on Sunday, posting a seven-over 217 for the tournament that put him in a tie for 22nd.
“Olympia Fields is a great U.S. Open-style golf course,” head coach John Fields said. “We are fortunate to have the opportunity to compete on a course that lets you know right where your game is. This tournament is a healthy wake-up call for our team. Doug Ghim played very well with his top-six finish, and Scottie’s final round was also solid.”
Florida State won the tournament with a six-over 846. Stanford’s Maverick McNealy, who tied for first in last year’s tournament, finished seven-under this year, giving him a three-shot victory.
The Longhorns will see their next action in Portland, Oregon, on October 4–6 for the Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.