PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's golf team opened its 2026-27 season with a ninth-place finish at the Golfweek Fall Challenge at True Blue Golf Club.

The Colonels finished the 54-hole event at 6-over par, carding rounds of 2-under, 1-over and 7-over on the par-72 course. EKU competed in a 16-team field in its first event as a member of the United Athletic Conference.

Junior Jonathan Ericsson led Eastern Kentucky in his Colonel debut, finishing tied for 11th at 4-under. The UAB transfer opened the tournament with a 4-under 68, recording four birdies and an eagle, before rounds of 73 and 71. He finished the week with 10 birdies and two eagles.

Junior Milton Wallin, another transfer making his EKU debut, tied for 23rd at even par. Wallin was consistent over the first two days with back-to-back 1-under rounds of 71 before closing with a 74.

Hristo Yanakiev finished tied for 33rd at 2-over following rounds of 71, 71 and 76. Freshman Tucker Jones made his collegiate debut with rounds of 76, 75 and 74 to finish tied for 61st at 9-over, while fellow freshman Seth Barker rounded out the lineup at 17-over.

Georgia Southern captured the team title at 26-under, nine strokes ahead of runner-up Troy. EKU's ninth-place finish came ahead of Murray State, West Georgia, Radford, Presbyterian, Missouri State, Central Arkansas and Bellarmine.

The Colonels return to action Sept. 14-15 at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational at Guyan Golf and Country Club in Huntington, West Virginia, where EKU will look to defend its 2025 team title.