Freshman Jacob Sosa made Texas men’s golf history this week at the Southwestern Invitational at the North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, California. The Westlake graduate shot a school-record 11-under-par 61 on the first day of the competition as the No. 18-ranked Longhorns cruised to their first overall team title of the season.

The tournament featured 12 teams with five ranked in the Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches Poll. Texas’ starting lineup consisted of Sosa, senior Travis Vick, freshmen Christiaan Maas and Keaton Vo and graduate student Brian Stark.    

Sosa’s historic performance included three eagles and five birdies as he topped the previous school record of 63, set by four different Longhorns. His 11-under-par was good enough for first place in the individual standings after day one, four strokes above second place.

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Fellow freshman Vo also had a stellar Monday, shooting 5-under-par after making eight birdies in his first round and a tie for third. Maas was not far behind, boasting a 4-under-par 68.

After recording a double bogey on the second hole, he carded an eagle and five birdies en route to a tie for sixth place on the day. 

Stark, in his first appearance as a Longhorn after three seasons at Oklahoma State, shot a 2-over-par while Vick scored an uncharacteristic 7-over-par. Overall, Texas held a five-stroke lead after the first round, shooting a collective 18-under-par 270.

Sosa cooled off on day two, posting a 2-over-par 74 as he rattled off three birdies in the round. Nonetheless, he remained on top of the individual rankings after 36 holes.

Maas scored a 2-under-par 70 after hitting an eagle on the 12th hole and tied for second. Vo registered a 1-under-par 71 after making an eagle and four birdies, also finishing tied for second. Stark finished his day with a 3-over-par, but still recorded three birdies. Vick continued to struggle, recording a 5-over-par 77. The Longhorns extended their lead in the team standings by a jaw-dropping 17 strokes.

The team maintained their success on the third and final day, finishing with an 850 team score and a 13-stroke lead over second-place No. 15 Pepperdine, the host of the invitational. 

Michael Brennan of Wake Forest took the individual title, edging out Vo by one stroke and Sosa by two strokes. Vo had a respectable day, carding a 2-under-par 70 in the second-place effort. Sosa shot another 2-over-par 74, finishing the tournament in third place, and Maas ended up tied for fifth after shooting 2-over par 74. Stark posted a 2-over-par 74 and a tie for 28th. Vick salvaged his tournament by carding an even-par and tying for 42nd, one of his worst tournaments this season.

Finishing with a team score of 14-under-par, the Longhorns won their third Southwestern Invitational, after holding the lead the entire tournament..

The Longhorns will be back in action at the Amer Ari Invitational in Kamuela, Hawaii, next week from Feb. 8-10.