ATU tied for lead at GAC Championships

Arkansas Tech University, the two-time defending Great American Conference men’s golf champions and No. 2 team in the country, finished the opening round of the GAC Championships tied atop the leaderboard with Southwestern Oklahoma State as the Wonder Boys and Bulldogs carded matching 7-over-par team scores on Sunday on the Arlington Course at Hot Springs Country Club.

Arkansas Tech’s Santiago De La Fuente posted the lone under-par round of the day with a 1-under 71. He made five birdies in his round, tied for the most in the round.

Henry Frizzell and Francois Jacobs, the GAC Player of the Year, each finished inside the top 10. Frizzell made eagle on the 18th hole to post an even-par round and shares second place. Jacobs played his opening 11 holes at 3 under but played the final seven in 5 over to end the day in a tie for ninth.

Gregor Weck paced three Bulldogs to post top-10 rounds as he shot an even-par round. He played the back nine in 2 under. Anders Strand and Lukas Hendricks each recorded three birdies and shot matching 1-over 73s.

Nick Shapiro of Henderson State joined Frizzell and Weck in a three-way tie for second. He equalled De La Fuente with five birdies. Alex Hadden also ended his day inside the top 10. His 2-over round included three birdies. Southeastern Oklahoma State sits in fourth place, one shot ahead of Harding. Trevor Mellott finished with the low round of the day for the Bisons with a 3-over 75.

Henderson State is in third place, two shots behind the Wonder Boys and Bulldogs. The University of Arkansas at Monticello, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Southern Arkansas and Southern Nazarene rounded out the team scoring.