TEXARKANA, Arkansas – Louisiana Tech's Lake Juban is the leader in the clubhouse after the first round of the 2023 Conference USA Men's Golf Championship, firing a 69 to help the Bulldogs finish day one in a tie for third at the Texarkana Country Club.
 
LA Tech finished round one shooting 296 (+8), tying with playing partner North Texas.  UAB (292) and Middle Tennessee (293) ended the day one and two on the team leaderboard through 18 holes.
 
Juban got off to a hot start, sinking birdies on two of his first four holes.  After making the turn at Even par due to back-to-back bogeys on No. 7 and No. 8, the senior shot 33 on the back nine to end the day atop the player leaderboard with a two stroke advantage.
 
Will Patrick was even hotter to start his round, carding five birdies in the first seven holes.  Despite struggling some on the back nine, he shot a 74 (+2) to finish tied for 10th amongst the 50-player field.
 
James Swash had the third best round for the Bulldogs, recording two birdies along with five scattered bogeys to shoot 75 (+3) and finish tied for 18th.  The fourth score used by LA Tech came from Hunter Battles who shot a 78 (+6).
 
NOTABLES

• LA Tech is tied for third as a team after round one. It marks their second highest finish after round one of a Conference USA Men's Golf Championship.
• Lake Juban's 69 tied for his second lowest round of the season. It also tied for the sixth lowest round of any Bulldog this season.
• LA Tech tied for the best average score on Par 3s with North Texas (3.05). Will Patrick shot -2 on Par 3s, the best of any player in the field.
• Will Patrick's six birdies tied for the most of any player in round one. His six birdies tied a season high and tied for the third most of any Bulldog this season.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will be paired with North Texas again for round two tomorrow.  The first Bulldog will tee off at 8:40 a.m. at the Texarkana CC.
 
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