VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's golf team turned in a strong opening round and sits tied for fifth place at the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Men's Golf Championship on Tuesday at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club.
The Colonels posted a team score of 287 (-1), tying Stetson for fifth. EKU enters the second round one stroke behind fourth-place Lipscomb and two strokes ahead of seventh-place participants Austin Peay and Central Arkansas.
"Very pleased with the round today," said veteran EKU head coach Pat Stephens. "We have put ourselves in a good place going into the last two rounds. Anders and Zach were solid, both 2-under for the day. Low scores are out there, and I'm looking for Hristo (Yanakiev), Justin (Begley) and Jameson (Corbin) to be in the red tomorrow. We need another good round to stay in the mix for Thursday."
Starting on the back nine, EKU opened the day in the middle of the pack, recording seven birdies, 24 pars and five bogeys. The Colonels surged on the front nine with nine birdies and 20 pars to finish the round at 1-under.
Junior Zach Watterson and senior Anders Larson paced EKU, each carding a 2-under 70 to sit tied for eighth individually.
"Overall, it was a solid round," said Larson. "I hit it well to the green but didn't really get the putter going until the back nine. I made a couple putts but also had a few bogeys late. I think the team is in a good spot heading into tomorrow, only a few back, which is where we want to be. We'll clean up a few things and be ready to go."
Both Watterson and Larson played bogey-free through their first 13 holes, combining for eight birdies in the opening round. Larson, a native of Pine Island, Minnesota, led the Colonels with a 34 (-2) on the back nine.
"I think I hit it pretty well today, other than two swings on the front nine," Watterson said. "I had the putter rolling and it was a very solid round for myself and my teammates. I think the team is in a very good spot. Being under par heading into the second round is something we'll take, just have to keep it going."
Senior Hristo Yanakiev is in 26th-place after shooting a 73 (+1), while sophomore Jameson Corbin is in 36th-place with a 74 (+2). Senior Justin Begley rounded out the lineup, finishing in 53rd-place with a 77 (+5).
EKU returns to action Wednesday morning for the second round beginning at 8 a.m. ET. The Colonels will start on the front nine and are paired with Stetson and Lipscomb.
