The Texas men’s golf team showed promise in its first invitational of the season. The No. 5 Longhorns took second in the Maridoe Collegiate Invitational in Carrollton.

Fifteen teams competed in the invitational, nine of which were ranked in the top 25. Juniors Mason Nome and Travis Vick and seniors Parker Coody, Cole Hammer and Pierceson Coody competed for the Longhorns.

Texas looked sharp in its season debut with impressive performances from Parker and Vick. Parker led the team overall and placed sixth in individual competition with Vick tying for seventh. Four other Longhorns finished in the top 11.

A one-under performance by Vick highlighted Day 1 and was enough to pace the Longhorns. Texas wrapped up Monday in a third-place tie with third-ranked Arizona. Day 2 of competition saw the Longhorns’ best single-day performance with Parker’s 4-under-par 68 which was enough to put Texas in second place. Parker also finished the second day in third place individually.

Nome and Hammer set the tone for the Horns in Wednesday’s third and final day of competition. The duo each carded 2-under-par to officially put Texas in second place for the tournament and gain momentum heading into their season.

The Longhorns  look to carry that same success from the Maridoe Invitational to Illinois for the Fighting Illini Invitational this weekend. Texas will then travel to Fort Worth in October to compete in the Colonial Collegiate Invitational hosted by TCU. This will be the last invitational before the Big 12 Match Play Tournament later in October.

Pierceson is a player to watch coming off a strong 2020-21 season where he had 5 top-5 finishes, including first place at the George Hannon Collegiate.