GREENVILLE, N.C. – In sticking with a familiar refrain this season, the UT Arlington men's golf team once again made a move up the leaderboard on the final day of a tournament, the latest occurrence coming Tuesday at the ECU Intercollegiate from Brook Valley Country Club.
 
Entering action on Tuesday, the Mavericks resided in a tie for 11th place as play was suspended on Monday with still half the field needing to complete their 2nd rounds. UTA jumped out to a blistering start on Tuesday morning and sat at -5 at one point in its final round, but settled for a 298 (+10) to move up two positions into a solo 9th-place finish after 54 holes (904, +40). Host East Carolina won the 16-team event at +18 (882) by two strokes.
 
Zak Jones led that surge for the Mavs in the final round, leaping 17 spots on the individual leaderboard with a 1-over 73 to go from a T-41 spot to a T-24 placement – his fourth top 25 of the season and third in the last four tournaments.
 
In all seven tournaments this season, UTA has now bettered, or equaled, its final placement on the leaderboard relative to where it stood at the conclusion of the opening day.
 
UTA SCORES
Team
9) UT Arlington: 311-295-298: 904 (+40)
 
Lineup
T-24) Zak Jones: 80-72-73: 225 (+9)
T-24) Caleb Hicks: 79-72-74: 225 (+9)
T-33) Daniel Cronje: 78-74-74: 226 (+10)
T-64) Hiroki Miya: 80-77-77: 234 (+18)
T-73) Cameron Beck: 74-83-79: 236 (+20)
T-76) Ind. Trent Griessel: 73-82-82: 237 (+21)
 
INSIDE THE SCORES
JONES
Jones was able to maintain an even-par score heading into his final two holes, registering three birdies and three bogeys to that point. But a bogey on the par-5, 543-yard 17th hole caused him to sign a 73, the best of any Maverick in the final 18 – the first round this season UTA has had all of its players over par.
 
HICKS
Hicks had a consistent round through his first 13 holes, carding two birdies and two bogeys. He registered a double on the par-4, 391-yard 14th hole, but still was able to post a 74 thanks to a closing birdie on the tough par-3, 240-yard 18th – one of just four birdies in the final round by the field.
 
CRONJE
The South African had a solid final round, notching his second-straight 74. Cronje put nothing higher than a bogey on his card, and rolled in a pair of birdies. He was the only Maverick to not register a double or worse all tournament.
 
MIYA
The New Zealand native had a solid front-nine showing as he was level par with two birdies and two bogeys. However, a double on the par-4, 420-yard 10th hole unfortunately set the tone for the rest of his round, resulting in the 77 and an atypical season-worst tournament total for UTA's season stroke average leader (72.9).
 
BECK
The freshman was on pace for a great round as he posted three birdies through his first six holes of play and resided at -2 after 10. However, a triple on the par-4, 445-yard 11th hole – and a string of bogeys on the back nine – halted his birdie run as he signed for the 79.
 
GRIESSEL (Individual)
Competing as an individual, the sophomore was unable to get anything going en route to the 82. He rolled in birdies on holes 16 and 17, but otherwise a few big numbers prevented a round in the 70s.
 
THIS AND THAT
UTA finished 3rd in the field in par-3 scoring (3.22) and ranked 4th in total birdies with 37 … Hicks tied for 3rd in par-3 scoring at 3.00.
 
NEXT UP
The Mavs will head to Phoenix for the Wyoming Cowboy Classic from Whirlwind Golf Club Apr. 3-4. This will be UTA's first time returning to Whirlwind GC since April of 2019.
 
FOLLOW THE MAVS SOCIALLY
For up-to-date news, photos and videos of the UTA men's golf program, follow us on Twitter: @UTAMavsMGolf, Instagram: @UTAMavsMGolf and Facebook: /UTAMavsMGolf.
 
ABOUT TEXAS RANGERS GOLF CLUB
Opened in February of 2019, the state-of-the-art Texas Rangers Golf Club is the new home of UTA's men's and women's golf programs. The world's only Major League Baseball-branded golf course, TRGC is the result of a $24 million renovation and updated routing of the former Chester W. Ditto Golf Course.
 
The Home of UTA Golf was designed by UTA alumni John Colligan and Trey Kemp of Arlington-based Colligan Golf Design. It features an expansive 23-acre practice area, and a new 33,871-square-foot clubhouse features a full-service restaurant and bar, covered patio overlooking the golf course, pro shop, locker rooms and numerous rental and event spaces. For more information about TRGC, click here.