No. 8 Texas handled brutal conditions and still came out on top Tuesday at the St Andrews Links Collegiate, locking up the No. 1 seed for match play after a 19-stroke win in stroke play at historic St Andrews Golf Club.
Rain, temperatures in the low 50s and winds topping 25 miles per hour made for a rough final round, but the Longhorns still posted a 27-over 378 and finished the two-round stroke-play portion at 23-over 723 (345-378). That was enough to comfortably clear the field and set up an 18-hole match Wednesday against the University of St Andrews to decide the team title.
Junior Daniel Bennett led the way, claiming medalist honors with an even-par 140 over 36 holes (64-76). He birdied holes 2 and 12 in Tuesday’s closing round, and the win gave him his second individual victory of the fall.
It also marked his second individual championship in his last three starts, after he and fifth-year Matt Comegys shared co-medalist honors at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup on Sept.
14-15.
Texas also owned the top three spots on the individual leaderboard. Comegys finished second at 3-over 143 (71-72), while junior Eduardo Derbez Torres took third at 4-over 144 (70-74). Senior Jack Gilbert tied for sixth at 6-over 146 (70-76).
Comegys’ 2-over 72 on Tuesday was the best individual round in the field. He added birdies at holes 3 and 12 in the final round.
Derbez Torres backed up his opening-round 70 with a 74 and delivered his best collegiate finish, topping his tie for eighth at this fall’s Jackson T. Stephens Cup.
Gilbert also produced his best collegiate result, improving on a tie for eighth at the 2025 Valspar Collegiate Invitational during his sophomore season.
Freshman Sterling Hurd tied for 11th at 10-over 150 (70-80) after a final-round 80, and sophomore Brooks Simmons tied for 18th at 14-over 154 (73-81).
The format counted five scores from six players during stroke play. On Tuesday, Texas counted rounds from Comegys, Derbez Torres, Bennett, Gilbert and Hurd. The average scoring round for the field was 79.13.
Behind Texas, the University of St Andrews earned the second seed at 42-over 742 (349-393). Washington was third at 43-over 743 (350-393), and Penn finished fourth at 66-over 766 (360-406).
Wednesday’s match-play final begins at 5:25 a.m. Central, 10:25 a.m. in Scotland, with tee times off the 1st tee.
Golf Channel will carry live coverage from 8-11 a.m. Central.
In Other News...
Oklahoma May Have Sparked A Bigger Arch Manning Debate
Arch Mannings uneven start to the 2026 season has only sharpened the conversation around what comes next for Texas at quarterback, and the latest round of NFL Draft buzz added another wrinkle. Mel Kiper Jr. put out an updated top 10 prospect list for the 2027 draft, and Manning was not included, a notable omission for a player whose name has carried weight since before he arrived in Austin.
The timing only made the discussion louder after Texas recent loss to Oklahoma, where Manning threw two interceptions and again showed the inconsistency that has defined his opening stretch. Jeremiah Smith, the Ohio State wide receiver, sits atop Kipers list, while Manning is left outside the group and facing a much bigger debate about whether the preseason expectations around him still match what has unfolded on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Former Texas Defenders Are Finding Bigger Roles Than Some Fans Expected
Several former Texas defenders are already carving out meaningful jobs at their new schools this season, a reminder that the Longhorns roster churn is now being felt well beyond Austin. Elijah Bo Barnes has been especially steady at Kentucky, where he has started every game at middle linebacker, while Liona Lefau has also settled into a visible role at Colorado, starting three of five games and remaining listed as a starter on the latest depth chart.
The rest of the group has had a more varied path, but the common thread is opportunity. Lavon Johnson has gotten on the field at Maryland, Melvin Hills III has appeared for UConn, and Caleb Chester has logged game action for Arizona State, with each finding a different kind of foothold as the season unfolds. For Texas fans keeping tabs on the programs former players, it is another look at how widely those exits can spread across the college football map. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Just Entered A Tough Recruiting Battle For A Key 2028 Target
Texas has jumped into the early race for 2028 defensive lineman Josiah Taylor, extending a scholarship offer to the Vero Beach High School prospect in Florida. At 6-4 and 315 pounds, Taylor already looks the part of an interior difference-maker, and his size and early promise have made him a target for several programs as the Longhorns continue building out their future class.
The recruiting picture is still taking shape, but Florida is currently viewed as the leader, which gives Texas plenty of ground to make up. For the Longhorns, the offer is another sign that they are moving aggressively on a player whose frame and potential fit the kind of defensive line profile they want to keep adding. [Read more 🡒]