Razorbacks earn program record Academic Progress Rate

FAYETTEVILLE -- For the sixth consecutive year, the University of Arkansas exceeded the benchmark Academic Progress Rate multiyear rate of 930 in all 19 of its intercollegiate sport programs.

All programs eclipsed the benchmark by at least 24 points with 13 programs besting the 930 benchmark by 42 points or more.

Arkansas' sport programs averaged a record rate of 984.2, marking the seventh straight year the program average has exceeded 970. The previous program best APR average was 977.8 in 2015--16. The average is based on the 17 APR scores released for the University of Arkansas. The NCAA combines APR scores for indoor and outdoor track and field.

Last week, the Razorback women's golf, women's gymnastics and women's tennis programs earned NCAA Public Recognition Awards for ranking among the top 10 percent of teams in their respective sports nationally. All three programs scored a perfect 1,000 multiyear rate.

It was the ninth NCAA Public Recognition Award earned by women's golf, the fourth by gymnastics and the first such award for women's tennis. The University of Arkansas has now earned a total of 16 public recognition awards in the past six years. Other top scoring programs include women's cross country, 996; women's softball, 995; women's volleyball, 995; and men's tennis, 993.

"As demonstrated by the rates in our most recent APR report, Razorback student-athletes are achieving record-breaking academic success on the path to graduation," said Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek. "All 19 of our sport programs are well above the national benchmark and have shown sustained improvement. The success of all our student-athletes, has allowed our program to achieve a record APR multiyear average.

"The Jerry and Gene Jones Family Student-Athlete Success Center will continue to be the centerpiece of our commitment to provide the resources and academic support needed to assist our student-athletes in earning their degrees and developing them, in all aspects of their lives, through the intercollegiate athletics experience."

Arkansas begins NCAA men's golf tournament

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Postseason action continues for head coach Brad McMakin and the University of Arkansas men's golf team this week as they travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma, for the 2018 NCAA Championship at Karsten Creek Golf Club.

Arkansas is making the program's 22nd NCAA Championship appearance and its sixth as a team under McMakin. Razorback sophomore Mason Overstreet advanced to the NCAA Championship last year and played to a runner-up finish at Rich Harvest Farms.

Senior Alvaro Ortiz is the only other Razorback with NCAA Championship experience. Ortiz advanced with the team in 2016.

Arkansas reached the NCAA Championship behind a dramatic third-round rally at the NCAA Norman Regional last week. Ortiz posted a 4-under on his last seven holes including an eagle on a par 3 helping the Razorbacks move up from 10th to a tie for fourth to move on.

The rest of the Arkansas' lineup includes sophomore William Buhl, sophomore Luis Garza and redshirt sophomore Tyson Reeder. Freshman Landon Ernst traveled as an alternate.

The Razorbacks open round one today at 7 a.m., pairing with Stanford and Arizona State beginning from hole No. 10. The field flips on Saturday and Arkansas begins at 12:20 p.m. from the first tee.

Uriell, Kim earn All-America honors

FAYETTEVILLE -- Senior Alana Uriell and junior Dylan Kim added their names to the Women's Golf Coaches Association All-America teams.

Uriell and Kim earned second-team honors joining teammate Maria Fassi who was a first-team selection on Tuesday. Arkansas has had eight Razorbacks earn 17 WGCA All-America honors in its program history. The selection is the first for Uriell, and Kim was a second-team honoree at Baylor before transferring to Arkansas.

Uriell is a Carlsbad, Calif., native who graduated from Arkansas in May. She finished the year third on the team with a 71.68 stroke average. She was a First-Team All-Southeastern Conference selection and was the only Razorback to card a round in the 60's at the NCAA Championship last week.

Kim was also All-SEC First Team. The Plano, Texas, native is second on the team with a 71.56 stroke average. She counted 21 rounds of par or better, finished the year with seven top-10 showings and led Arkansas at the NCAA Championship finishing tied for 21st overall.

The duo is part of a record-setting team that won the program's first SEC and NCAA Regional titles. Arkansas had a program-record seven team victories and set several team and individual records this year.

The University of Arkansas will host the 2019 NCAA Men's and Women's Golf Championships next spring at The Blessings.

Salazar moves into second round of tennis nationals

WINSTON SALEM, N.C. -- Arkansas senior Jose Salazar moved into the second round of doubles competition Wednesday at the NCAA Championships after a three-set victory over Oklahoma's Ferran Calvo at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.

Salazar, who is ranked No. 18 nationally in singles, bested No. 64 Calvo, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, and next played California's No. 54 Billy Griffith Thursday in the second round.

Additionally, doubles competition began Thursday as the Razorbacks' No. 37 ranked tandem of juniors Oscar Mesquida and Adam Sanjurjo took on No. 30 Christian Langmo and Adria Soriano Barrera of Miami (Fla.) in first-round action.

Sports on 05/25/2018

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