CARLSBAD, Calif. (May 24, 2024) – Led by the one-two punch of Mats Ege and Algot Kleen, the ETSU men's golf team sits tied for ninth following first round play of the NCAA Championship, which began on Friday at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, North Course.
 
The Bucs, who had the last tee time of the afternoon, posted an 8-over-par 296 and sits in a three-way tie for ninth with Texas and Notre Dame.
 
ETSU is only six shots off the lead as Virginia and Arizona are atop the team leaderboard at 2-over-par 290. North Carolina is one shot back in third at 3-over-par 291, while Georgia Tech – who was grouped with the Bucs – is in fourth at 4-over-par 292. Illinois and Auburn are tied for fifth at 5-over-par 293, Ohio State is seventh (+6) and reigning national champion Florida is in eighth (+7).
 
Ege led the Blue & Gold in round one as he's tied for eighth at 1-under 71, marking his 31st sub-par round of the season. Ege totaled three birdies, 13 pars and two bogeys on the round. Two of the three birdies came over his final five holes, including his final hole – the par-4, 426-yard No. 9 – to move back into the top-10.
 
With only 12 golfers in the field of 156 players shooting below par on Friday, Kleen gave the Blue & Gold a solid score of even-par 72. Kleen is tied for 13th following his round that featured three birdies, 12 pars and three bogeys.
 
Georgia Tech's Hiroshi Tai went low on Friday as he carded a 5-under 67 to grab a one-shot lead over Ohio State's Adam Wallin. Stanford's Karl Vilips and Florida's John DuBois are tied for third at 3-under 69.

ETSU's other countable scores came from Remi Chartier and Matty Dodd-Berry. Chartier is tied for 81st at 4-over 76 and Dodd-Berry is tied for 97th at 5-over 77.
 
After waiting around all day on Friday, the Bucs will be in the morning wave on Saturday as ETSU tees off in round two at 11:30 a.m. ET. ETSU is still grouped with Georgia Tech and California.
 
Fans can follow live scoring all weekend at Golfstat.com.
 
For more information about ETSU men's golf, visit ETSUBucs.com and select men's golf.