VALDOSTA, Ga. — The ninth-ranked Georgia Southwestern men's golf team posted a first round total of 284 to finish tied for eighth place on Thursday at the South/Southeast Regional at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Ga. As a team, the Hurricanes finished 4-under on the day. 

The field featured 19 teams out of the 20 participants ranked in the top 50 including fellow Peach Belt members No. 6 USC Aiken, No. 8 North Georgia, and No. 19 Columbus State.

Simon Estrada and Nicolas Escobar led the Hurricanes for the round shooting 69 and 70 respectively. Estrada posted five birdies and two bogeys on Thursday getting three consecutive birdies on the 15, 16 and 17th holes while Escobar had four birdies and one double-bogey on 17 in the first round.

Chase Mclain finished third on the team after the first round shooting 72 after his first round on Thursday to finish in tied for 47th place in the standings. Erik Fogel finished at 73 on Thursday good enough to be tied for 55th overall. Jack Tharrington finished the day out for the Hurricanes shooting a 74 in the first round finishing tied for 66th place.  

The second of three rounds will take place on Friday.  At a minimum, the top three teams and the top two student-athletes not with a team from each 2022 NCAA D-II regionals will qualifies to the national championship tournament from Monday, May 16, through Friday, May 20, at TPC Michigan in Detroit, Michigan.

For more updates on the GSW golf team follow them on Twitter or Instagram at @GSW_Golf.

1t. West Georgia  276 (-12)
1t. Delta State  276 (-12)
3. Barry  277 (-11)
4. Limestone  281 (-7)
5t. Columbus State  282 (-6)
5t. Barton  282 (-6)
7. Saint Leo  283 (-5)
8t. Georgia Southwestern  284 (-4)
8t. West Florida  284 (-4)
10. Florida Southern  285 (-3)
11. Nova Southeastern  287 (-1)
12t. Carson-Newman  288 (E)
12t. USC Aiken  288 (E)
14. Lee  289 (+1)
15t. North Georgia  291 (+3)
15t. King  291 (+3)
15t. Lincoln Memorial  291 (+3)
18. Lynn  292 (+4)
19. Spring Hill  298 (+10)
20. Queens  299 (+11)