MAUMELLE, Ark. - The Mid-America Christian University men's golf team headed east to open their spring break, taking part in the Central Baptist College Mustang Invitational at the Country Club of Arkansas. The event was added late, and despite that, the Evangels opened with a solid round.

MACU fired a team score round of 314, putting themselves in position to make a run on day two at the teams above them. MACU is 17 strokes off the pace being set by Missouri Valley College who carded a 297. The Evangels are much closer to the other three teams in front of them, trailing the host Central Baptist Mustangs and Missouri Baptist University Spartans by only five strokes, and the fourth place Southwestern Christian University Eagles by three. 

MACU was led on the day by freshman Kaden Upton. Upton, playing as the number four bag for the Evangels, Upton went out and birdied the fourth, 11th, and 16th holes, and he avoided any big numbers to fire a 73 and finish the day tied for third on the leaderboard. He is four shots back of the leader in the clubhouse, Nicolas Evangelio of Missouri Valley who shot a 69.

The Evangels again notched 10 birdies as a team in the round, marking the second straight day of competition that the Evangels have hit many red numbers on the scorecards.

Isaac Maston birdied the first hole of the day, and he shot a 78 to put himself in a tie for 18th, and Gage Gibson birdied twice, on the fourth and 16th holes, and he shot a 79 to tie for 20th on the day.

Austin Davis birdied the fourth, 11th, and 18th holes to post an opening round 84, and Cooper Sperle notched the final birdie of the day, his coming on hole number two, as he shot a 96. The duo is tied for 45th, and 75th, respectively, after the first day's play.

The tournament will conclude with a single 18-hole round on Tuesday.