Bouncing back from its 10th place performance at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational in late March, the No. 18 Texas men’s golf team earned a runner-up finish at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational after firing a 15-under par combined score of 849.
The Longhorns teed off against 14 other programs at the Forest Hills Golf Club, a par-72 course in Augusta, Georgia. Despite less-than-ideal green conditions, Texas found its competitive rhythm, producing multiple under-par rounds within its squad.
Sophomore Christiaan Maas shot a four-under par score of 212 across 54 holes, tallying 14 birdies and one eagle over three rounds. He finished ninth individually, marking his third top-10 season result and second of the spring semester.
“I wouldn’t say it was particularly great getting myself into that position,” Maas said. “It was kind of just grinding out and managing a golf score out of it.”
Additionally, Texas recorded under-par rounds from four other members. Graduate Brian Stark posted a two-under-par score of 70 in his final round, finishing tied for 14th. Senior Nathan Petronzio and sophomore Keaton Vo both carded a 1-under par score of 71 in the final round, tying for 20th and 37th, respectively.
Sophomore Tommy Morrison recorded his second top-10 finish of the year, firing eight birdies and seven pars in the final round to score a 3-under par of 213. This push boosted his standings by 15 places to finish tied for 10th alongside three other competitors.
“It kind of just shows that you need to stay patient,” Maas said. “[A strong result] will happen in the end if you just keep on fighting. I think you just need to think about how you would feel tonight, lying in your bed thinking back at the rounds, and just make sure you give it your best.”
North Carolina won its sixth team title of the season, finishing six strokes ahead of Texas. UNC senior Peter Fountain, junior David Ford and fifth-year Dylan Menante all placed within the top 10.
Senior Tobias Jonsson of Mercer earned individual medalist honors, carding a 9-under par 207, while Oklahoma State seniorBo Jin claimed second, posting an 8-under par 208.
Texas will return to the course on April 15-17 to compete at the Western Intercollegiate in Santa Cruz, California.
