Noah McWilliams fires a 1-under 71 to tie for sixth as Tigers finish first round at 6-over in Saucier, Mississippi.
SAUCIER, Miss. | LSU senior Noah McWilliams shot a 1-under-par 71 to lead the Tigers into eighth place Saturday after the opening round of the Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational at Fallen Oak Golf Course.
LSU finished the first 18 holes at 6-over par, with McWilliams providing the Tigers' strongest performance on the par-72, 7,480-yard layout. The Louisiana native recorded five birdies and was tied for sixth individually entering the second round.
McWilliams was the only LSU golfer to break par, keeping the Tigers within striking distance of the teams ahead of them as the tournament continued.
Sophomores Dan Hayes and Hudson Lawson each carded a 2-over 74 to finish the opening round tied for 26th.
Lawson delivered one of LSU's strongest performances on the par-5 holes, posting a tournament-leading 4.00 scoring average. He recorded two birdies and an eagle on the longer holes, continuing his strong par-5 play early in his second season with the Tigers.
Senior Jay Mendell rounded out LSU's top four scorers with a 3-over 75, placing him in a tie for 35th. Despite finishing above par, Mendell led the tournament in par-4 scoring average at 3.90.
McWilliams' five-birdie performance highlighted an opening round in which LSU received contributions from both its veteran players and sophomore lineup.
The Tigers will look to climb the leaderboard in the remaining rounds, with McWilliams positioned for a potential top-10 individual finish.
The Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational brings collegiate golf competition to Mississippi's Gulf Coast, where LSU is seeking to build momentum as its season progresses.
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-- By Andre Leday
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