HUMBLE, Texas (Feb. 8, 2022) – Oskari Nikku posted Oklahoma Christian's top-round, a 2-under-par 70, while Exequiel Rodriguez recorded a top-10 individual finish for the Eagles in the Houston Classic men's golf tournament, which ended Tuesday at The Golf Club of Houston.

No. 6-ranked OC finished second behind No. 2 Arkansas Tech in the 14-team tournament, the first time during the 2021-22 season that the Eagles finished behind a NCAA Division II team in any event. OC won its three Division II events during the fall portion of the season.

Arkansas Tech posted a three-round score of 860, with OC with a score of 884. Cameron, one of OC's Lone Star Conference rivals, was third at 889. No. 18-ranked Midwestern State (Texas) placed fifth at 904.

Playing as an individual, Nikku, a freshman from Tuusula, Finland, had four birdies – including three over a four-hole stretch on the front nine of the 6,945-yard course. He finished 11th in the 87-man field at 220 (4-over).

Rodriguez, a freshman from Buenos Aires, Argentina, had five birdies en route to a 73 on Tuesday and had a three-round score of 219 (3-over) to tie for eighth. Two Eagles finished two shots behind him, tied for 12th at 221 – senior Andres Brictson of Merida, Mexico (who shot a 71) and junior Alejandro Armijo of Rio Rancho, N.M. (who shot a 74). Armijo also had five birdies on Tuesday.

Sophomore Mateo Pulcini of Rio Cuarto, Argentina, shot a 74 and tied for 16th at 224. Freshman Santiago Villareal of Cordoba, Argentina, tied for 37th at 229 after a final-round 73.

For the tournament, Rodriguez finished with 12 birdies, tied for second-highest in the tournament. Armijo had 11 birdies, Nikku and Pulcini nine each and Villareal eight.

Francois Jacobs of Arkansas Tech won a three-way playoff for medalist honors at 213 (3-under).

OC's next tournament won't be for more than a month – the Las Vegas Desert Classic, which will be played March 6-8 at The Legacy Golf Course in Las Vegas.

Tournament results on Golfstat can be found here.