The Arkansas men’s golf team didn’t waste any time making a statement this fall.
Ranked No. 8/10 nationally, the Hogs claimed the team championship at the inaugural Vuori Invitational, held at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club in California.
Four Razorbacks finished among the top 15 golfers in the field as Arkansas posted a 54-hole score of 852, just one stroke ahead of Colorado.
The Hogs shot 1-over in the final round to seal the win. Southern Cal finished third at +11, followed by BYU at +12 and host San Diego at +14.
It’s a strong way for Arkansas to kick off the 2026-27 season.
Gerardo Gomez led the way for the Razorbacks with a third-place individual finish. Thomas Curry wasn’t far behind, tying for fifth overall.
Niilo Maki-Petaja also had a big week, tying for 11th. Lev Grinberg made his college debut count too, tying for 14th in his very first tournament wearing the Arkansas colors.
McMakin praises his team’s effort
Hogs coach Brad McMakin didn’t hold back his pride after the win.
“I was happy with everything I saw out of the team,” McMakin said. “The course and conditions were extremely difficult this week and, other than Colorado, to win pretty convincingly is a great way to start the season. Gerry and Thomas played to a very high level, Niilo finished strong and Lev performed well for his first collegiate tournament.”
This wasn’t just any win either.
It marked the fourth time Arkansas has captured a season-opening title under McMakin.
The Hogs hadn’t opened a season with a win since 2011-12, back when Arkansas won an NCAA-best seven tournaments that year. Counting this one, the Razorbacks have now won their season opener six times total.
Gomez and Maki-Petaja both turned in the best final-round scores for Arkansas, each carding a 1-under 70. Gomez ran into some trouble on the 11th hole, which played as the toughest hole of the tournament, picking up a double bogey there.
He bounced back though, adding birdies on holes 8, 10 and 14 to lock down his third-place finish.
Curry and Grinberg add steady rounds
Maki-Petaja also shot 70 in the second round of the tournament. He balanced a couple of bogeys on holes 7 and 13 with birdies on holes 2 5 and 17 to finish out his week strong.
Curry picked up his third career top-5 finish with rounds of 73-67-73 for an even-par total of 213 across the tournament. Grinberg carded three consecutive rounds of 72 giving him a 3-over total of 216 for his debut showing.
Willie Gordon and Guus Lafeber rounded out the Arkansas lineup. Gordon shot 74 in the final round and finished the tournament 6-over, tying for 31st place with rounds of 72-75-74.
Lafeber competed as an individual entry and tied for 40th overall with a 10-over total of 223 after rounds of 75-74-74.
Arkansas won’t be back in action for a couple weeks.
The Razorbacks return to the course Sept. 28-29 at the Bryan Bros Collegiate hosted by South Carolina at Solina Golf Club.
