THACKERVILLE, OKLA. - The UT Tyler men's golf team sits fourth after day one of the 2023 Lone Star Conference Men's Golf Championships with rounds of 283-296 at Winstar Golf Club. 

The Patriot's 579 total on Monday puts UT Tyler in position to advance into the medal match play bracket of the tournament that will consist of the four top teams following tomorrow's third and final round. UT Tyler stands six shots clear of fifth place Arkansas-Fort Smith heading into tomorrow.

Sophomores Jackson Naeger and Seth Campbell both fired opening round 69's on Monday morning, and each remained under par for the day to sit within the top five of the individual leaderboard. Naeger sits in a tie for 3rd place at three-under par 141, while Campbell sits in a tie for fifth at two-under par 142.

Graduate student Carson Whitton joined Naeger and Campbell with under-par opening rounds, carding a round of 71 to join freshman Luke Emerson's 75 for the four counting scores for the Patriots. That 283 was much needed in a field that features three top 25 teams in #9 Oklahoma Christian, #16 Midwestern State and #18 Cameron, all of which sit in the one-through-three spots on the team leaderboard ahead of UT Tyler.

Oklahoma Christian will hold the overnight lead after rounds of 281-283 for a 564, while Cameron (568) and Midwestern State (284) sit well-within striking distance of the Eagles heading into tomorrow. Exequiel Rodriguez of Oklahoma Christian posted rounds of 65-70 for a nine-under par 135 to sit atop the individual leaderboard. 

UT Tyler will look to maintain their fourth-place standing in tomorrow's final round behind the trio of Oklahoma Christian, Cameron and Midwestern State for one of the four available spots in the medal match play bracket on Wednesday. The Patriots complimented their opening team score of 283 with a 296 as the winds picked up across Winstar Golf Club's Scissortail Course for the afternoon rounds.

Naeger made 16 pars, a birdie and a bogey to post an even-par 72 and climb within six shots of the individual lead at three-under par. Campbell matched his morning 69 with a one-over 73, while Emerson maintained his consistent play as of late with a 74. 

Junior Carter Lewis followed up a first round 75 with a 77 in the second round to sit in 44th place with a 152 total. Whitton shot 84 in the second round to sit in a tie for 51st place at 155 (71-84).

UT Tyler will get started with an 8 a.m. shotgun start tomorrow morning in the third and final round of the stroke play portion of the event.