OPELIKA, Ala. – Birthday boy Thomas Henson and sophomore Grant Smith fired a pair of 68s to help lead Louisiana Tech to its second lowest round of golf this season, shooting 280 (-8) on Sunday to end round one in fourth at the Tiger Invitational.
 
Meanwhile at the Grand Lakes National Course, Lake Juban and Riley Hnatyshyn both shot even pars of 72 as LA Tech trails only Southern Miss, host Auburn, and Troy after 18 holes.
 
Smith was stellar in playing his best round of golf as a Bulldog, going bogey free.  He opened up with 10 straight pars, but then tore up the front nine by sinking four birdies in the span of six holes (No. 2, No. 4, No. 5, and No. 7). 
 
Henson was nearly bogey free as well, tripping up on No. 13, but that was surrounded by birdies on holes 11, 12, and 14.  He shot two-under on the front nine for his best round as a Bulldog.  Both Henson and Smith enter round two tied for fourth individually.
 
Juban was at -2 going into the final two holes, but a double bogey on the par three No. 8 pushed him back to a 72.  The freshman Hnatyshyn, playing in his second event, overcame a double bogey on his first hole to rebound for his best round with a 72.
 
The fifth Bulldog, Hunter Battles, shot a 76 (+4).
 
UP NEXT
LA Tech plays round two of the Tiger Invitational on Monday.  The Bulldogs will be paired with Richmond and Auburn (B), first teeing off at 8:50 a.m.
 
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