John Daly II and Niilo Maki-Petaja each fired a 2-under-par 69 in the final round as Arkansas also carded a 2-under-par team score of 282 to move up two spots and finish third at the Bearcat Invitational, played at the par-71 Coldstream Country Club, with a 1-under score of 851.
With his final-round effort, Daly finished runner-up with a 6-under-par, 54-hole score of 207 (his second-best career total). It marked his third career top-five result with a win and a fourth-place finish last season. The senior started the final round with bogeys on his second and third holes of the day (holes 6 and 7). However, he rallied with birdies on holes 8 and 9 to get back to even. Daly then played his final 12 holes bogey-free with birdies on holes 10 and 18. Overall, Daly finished with 13 birdies, which ranked fourth-most in the 96-person field.
Maki-Petaja climbed 16 spots with his final-round 69 to tie for 40th (75-72-69=216). The junior carded a bogey-free round Tuesday with 16 pars and birdies on holes 13 and 16. Overall, he tied for 40th thanks to 42 pars, which tied teammate Erich Fortlage for second-most in the field.
Fortlage was the Razorbacks’ second-highest finisher, tying for 33rd with rounds of 71-73-41 for a 2-over 215.
Cam Smith was second on the team with 12 birdies over the three rounds and he tied for 49th (72-73-73=218). Hot Springs freshman Willie Gordon, who made his collegiate debut, tied for 55th (70-74-75=219)
Host Cincinnati won the event going away with a three-round, 16-under-par total of 834. Little Rock was second with a total of 845, followed by Arkansas (851), Nebraska (83) and Louisville (854).
Up next, Arkansas will host the sixth annual Blessings Collegiate Invitational Sept. 29-Oct. 1.
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