Texas Men’s Golf Edges Arizona in Dramatic Finish to Claim Arizona N.I.T. Title
TUCSON, Ariz. - When the pressure was at its highest, Texas senior Tommy Morrison delivered. With the team title on the line and the final putt resting on his shoulders, Morrison calmly knocked in a short birdie to close out a thrilling win for the No. 4 Longhorns at the Arizona N.I.T. on Tuesday.
Texas carded a 10-under 278 in the final round, finishing at 41-under 823 for the tournament-just one shot clear of host Arizona at 40-under 824. It’s the Longhorns’ second team victory of the 2025-26 season, following a co-championship at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational back in late September.
But this one? This one came down to the wire.
A Finish Worthy of a Title
The drama peaked late. Arizona held a one-shot edge heading into the 54th and final hole.
Then, Wildcats golfer William Wistrand bogeyed the 18th, opening the door for Texas. Morrison, playing the par-five 2nd hole as his final test, stepped up.
His third shot-a precise pitch-settled just two feet from the cup. With the championship hanging in the balance, he buried the birdie putt.
Game over. Longhorns win.
Steady Climb Through Disrupted Play
The tournament wasn’t without its curveballs. Monday’s scheduled 36-hole day was cut short due to darkness, with the field halted midway through the second round.
Play resumed Tuesday morning and rolled straight into the final round. Texas didn’t blink.
They closed strong, counting rounds from Morrison (2-under 70), Luke Potter (2-under 70), Daniel Bennett (6-under 66), and Matt Comegys (even-par 72) to post a 10-under team total on the day.
Arizona made a push of its own, firing a tournament-low 269 in the final round, but it wasn’t quite enough to overcome Texas’ consistency across all three rounds (275-270-278).
Individual Standouts Shine Bright
While the team win was the headline, there were plenty of standout individual performances. Arizona’s Filip Jakubcik walked away with medalist honors at 14-under 202, thanks to three rounds in the 60s. But Texas was right there in the mix.
Senior Luke Potter turned in his best finish of the season, claiming solo second at 12-under 204. He opened with a 66, followed it up with a 68, and closed with a 2-under 70 that included four birdies and just two bogeys. Potter’s consistency continues to be a major asset for this Texas squad.
Morrison, the hero of the day, finished fourth at 10-under 206. He birdied four holes in his final round, including the clutch one to seal the win. His 70 on Tuesday capped a strong week that also featured a 66 in the second round.
Sophomore Daniel Bennett caught fire in the final round, carding a 6-under 66 to climb into a tie for eighth at 8-under 208. His round was electric-seven birdies, an eagle on the par-five 8th, and a fearless approach that helped push Texas over the top.
Playing as an individual, sophomore Eduardo Derbez Torres had a breakout performance with a 3-under 69 to finish tied for 14th at 6-under 210. His four birdies and just one bogey on Tuesday marked his best showing of the season, a notable step forward after a previous best of T-31 at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup.
Graduate Matt Comegys was the model of steadiness, carding 18 straight pars in his final round for an even-par 72. That locked him into a tie for 18th at 5-under 211. Junior Jack Gilbert, after a hot start with back-to-back 68s, struggled in the final round with a 79 to finish tied for 37th at 1-under 215.
Missing a Star, Still Delivering
It’s worth noting that Texas pulled off this win without one of its biggest names. Senior All-American Christiaan Maas was absent, competing on the international stage at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Maas more than held his own, finishing as the low amateur with a tie for 10th and a 72-hole score of 6-under 282. His absence left a hole in the lineup, but the rest of the Longhorns stepped up in a big way.
What’s Next
With momentum on their side and two titles already in the bag this season, the Longhorns now look ahead to their next challenge: the Amer Ari Invitational in Waimea, Hawaii, set for Feb. 5-7. If Tucson was any indication, this group has the depth, poise, and firepower to contend with anyone in the country.
The Arizona N.I.T. proved that Texas doesn’t just have talent-they have grit. And when the pressure’s on, they’ve got players like Tommy Morrison who can rise to the moment and deliver.