Texas men’s golf finished third in its first action of the season shooting a three-over-par in the Folds of Honor Collegiate tournament at American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan this week.
For its third straight year, the Folds of Honor Collegiate tournament invites some of the nation’s best golf teams for an early season competition. Some notable invitees include No. 3 Florida State, No. 9 Illinois as well as SEC powers, No. 16 Alabama and No. 17 Arkansas.
For a career-best, junior Tommy Morrison took control during his final day, shooting a six-under 65 par in his final of three rounds to finish as the runner up just behind Alabama’s Dominic Clemons on the leaderboard.
In the first two days of the tournament, Morrison and fellow junior Christiaan Maas were neck-and-neck on the individual leaderboard. At the end of the first day, the pair was tied for seventh place with an identical score of one-under 70 for the first 18 holes.
By the start of the third day of the tournament, Morrison and Mass moved up two spots, still tied, standing fifth overall with another identical score of two-under 140. Morrison finally eclipsed his fellow Longhorn teammate on the final day of the tournament.
Despite his teammate jumping ahead of him, Maas still had a solid tournament performance, finishing top ten in the overall standings. Shooting a two-under 69 par on the last day of the tournament, he secured himself a sixth place finish in the three day tournament.
Making his tournament debut for the Longhorns, junior Luke Potter, a recent transfer from Arizona State, got out to a slow start with a five-over par on his first day of the tournament. Potter regrouped in his final two days, shooting two-over par and tied for 34th overall in his Texas debut.
Sophomore Jack Gilbert had a strong first two days, finishing with an even par and two-over par on the second day. Gilbert struggled on his third day of the tournament, falling out of his 17th place standing, scoring six-over par for his last action of the three day tournament, finishing in a three-way tie for 30th overall.
Arguably the most inexperienced member sent to Michigan, sophomore Ben DeLaRosa competed in his third tournament ever for Texas. DeLaRosa improved throughout the three day tournament, building upon each day better than the last. He finished in a five-way tie for 55th.
The biggest surprise in the tournament came from fellow SEC school, No. 16 Alabama, winning the season opening tournament. No one got close to the Crimson Tide throughout all three days, shooting a nine-under par on day one and seven-under par on the final day to give them the overall victory.
Alabama finished the tournament 12-under par with the next closest team being No. 9 Illinois shooting five-under par. The Fighting Illini narrowly edged Texas for a second place finish with a hot performance shooting six-under par Wednesday afternoon.
The Longhorns will have an opportunity for redemption when they meet both the Crimson Tide and Fighting Illini again next week in the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational next week.
Texas will return to the course on Sept. 20th, heading back to the Midwest in the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Illinois.
