COLLEGE GROVE, Tenn. – ULM senior Andoni Etchenique drained eight birdies, including one on the 18th hole, and is tied for the lead at 4-under-par while the Warhawk men's golf team is third after the first round of the Intercollegiate at The Grove.
"We had our moments today where we played very solid," ULM Director of Golf Tim Baldwin said. "Our driving can still be a little suspect, but overall we are trending in the right direction."
Etchenique closed the first round at 4-under-par 68. He posted red numbers five times in a seven hole stretch on the front nine. He started with a birdie on the par-5 second hole, added birdies on the par-4 fourth and par-3 fifth and capped the run with birdies on the par-5 seventh and par-4 eighth. On the back nine, Etchenique sunk birdies on the par-4 12th, the par-4 16th and the par-5 18th. He is tied for the lead with Coastal Carolina's Tyler Gray and Mercer's Jonathan Parker.
"Andoni played really well today," Baldwin said.
Senior Guillaume Fanonnel and sophomore Otto Van Buynder are part of a tie for 19th after shooting even-par 72 in the first round.
Fanonnel had three birdies, all on the front nine. He picked up birdies on the second, fourth and seventh holes. He collected 12 pars.
"G was a little flat on the back nine with a cold putter and not making any birdies," Baldwin said.
Van Buynder drained birdies on the second and fourth holes before adding red numbers on the par-5 11th and par-4 14th. He had 11 pars for the round.
Freshman Cody Winkler wrapped up ULM's team score in the first round with a 2-over-par 74 to tie for 30th. He sunk birdies on the par-3 third and par-5 seventh holes. He tallied 12 pars.
Freshman Melan Dhaubhadel shot a 4-over-par 76. He collected birdies on the seventh, eighth, 11th and 18th holes to go with eight pars.
Sophomore Keegan McLachlan also shot a 4-over-par 76. He birdied the fourth hole and picked up 13 pars.
ULM shot a 2-under-par 286 as a team to sit in third place. Coastal Carolina and host Middle Tennessee are tied for the lead at 4-under-par 284.
The Warhawks will tee off the final round at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday from the first hole. Etchenique, Fanonnel and Dhaubhadel will head out first, followed 10 minutes later by McLachlan, Winkler and Van Buynder.
"I look forward to tomorrow and seeing how we respond to the pressure of winning our first tournament," Baldwin said.
A link to live scoring is available on the men's golf schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
