RESULTS |HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Arkansas Tech’s Austin Smith carded the best first-round score in Great American Conference Men’s Golf Championship history, a 6-under par 66, to spearhead the Wonder Boys to a five-stroke lead after 18 holes from the Arlington Course of the Hot Springs Country Club.
Smith registered six birdies and an eagle, against two bogeys, to finish four shots clear of the field. The field played to a 76.28 stroke average. Oklahoma Baptist’s Kyle Perdew finished the day in second place after carding a 2-under 70 in a round that featured five birdies. Southeastern Oklahoma State’s Hayden Foster and Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Kason Cook each posted 1-under 71s.
The Wonder Boys, ranked second in the latest NCAA Central Region Rankings, posted the lowest first-round team score in GAC Championship history as they combined to shoot even par. After Smith, Luke Cornett posted a 72, Putter Srinoon added a 73 and Ryan Spurlock came through with a 77.
Harding, ninth in the Central Region, capped day one in tied with Henderson State for second place. The Bisons two All-GAC performers led the way as First-Teamer Alex Williamson registered a 72 and Second-Team pick Mason Banger followed with a 73. Juan Luis Sanchez Perez also posted a 73 and Cooper Dunn added 75.
The Reddies, the three-time GAC Champions, placed their four scoring golfers inside the top 15, headed up by Tait Darby, who tied for fourth with a 72. Price Murphree added a 73 while Drew Greenwood and Nick Shapiro each turned in 2-over 74s.
SWOSU, the No. 4 school in the region, closed day one two shots in back of Harding and Henderson State. In support of Cook, GAC Player of the Year Stefan Idstam carded a pair of birdies against two bogeys for an even-par 72 and Marques Gomez shot a 74.
Southern Nazarene and Southern Arkansas placed fifth and sixth. The Crimson Storm’s Preston Lovett joined the group of five tied fifth at even par.
Southeastern Oklahoma State closed Sunday in seventh, followed by Arkansas-Monticello and Northwestern Oklahoma State.
Monday’s second round begins at 7:30 a.m. with the members of the Weevils and Rangers hitting the opening tee shots.