Source: UA Sports Information
Date Published: 9/29/2005 9:25:13 AM
Last Modified: 10/1/2005 9:25:13 AM
PermaLink: http://haw.gs/n15864

RENO, Nev. – Matt Bortis captured the second tournament title of his career at the Wolf Pack Invitational on Wednesday, but it was not enough as the Arkansas men’s golf team was unable to overcome tournament host Nevada at the Arrow Creek Country Club.

Bortis fired a career-best 63 (-9) in the final round to edge New Mexico State’s Danny Bowen by one stroke. He posted a three-round total of 206 after shooting a 69 in the first round and a 74 in the second round. Bortis finished the final two holes of Tuesday’s second round on Wednesday morning prior to the start of the final round.

“What an amazing round of golf by Matt Bortis today,” Arkansas head coach Mike Ketcham said. “He just caught fire in the final round and played brilliant golf.”

Bortis has proven to be the Razorbacks’ unquestioned leader on the course this season with a 69.7 stroke average in the first two tournaments (six rounds). His previous tournament win came at last season’s NIT Invitational.

The home-standing Wolf Pack finished at 12-under-par 852 for the tournament after rounds of 286 (-2), 285 (-3) and 281 (-7). New Mexico State edged the Hogs by two strokes for second place after rounds of 287 (-1), 281 (-7) and 286 (-2).

Arkansas shot 6-under-par 282 in the opening round, but struggled with a 1-over-par round of 289 in the darkness-delayed second round. The Razorbacks fired a 3-under-par 285 in the final round to beat fourth-place Utah (859) by three strokes. The University of Denver finished fifth at 3-under par (861).

“Unfortunately we didn’t do the things down the stretch we needed to do to win the golf tournament,” Ketcham said. “But I saw a lot of good things this week that makes me think that this can be a really good golf team. I am excited about what lies ahead for this group.”

Junior Beau Glover turned in three quality rounds of golf to finish in a tie for 20th. He shot even-par 72 in the first round and followed that with a 1-under round of 71 in the second round and even par in the final round.

Glover finished one-under (215) for the tournament, equaling his career-best 54-hole score from the Country Club of Louisiana Classic as a true freshman in 2003.

Eric Shriver and Jordan Payne both tied for 34th with 3-over-par totals of 219. Shriver fired rounds of 73 (+1), 70 (-2) and 76 (+4).

Payne got off to a blazing start with a 68 (-4) in the first round, but faltered in the second round with a 5-over-par 77. He then battled back in the final round to post a 2-over-par 74. Payne, a true freshman, has a 72.7 scoring average in his first six rounds of collegiate golf.

Scotty Campbell rounded out the Hogs’ lineup with a 13-over-par total of 229. Allen McFarren competed as an individual for Arkansas and finished in a tie for 57th with a 8-over-par score of 224.

The Razorbacks next travel to Tampa, Fla., for the Gary Koch Invitational on Oct. 10-11 at the Old Memorial Golf Club

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