TEXARKANA, Ark. – A flurry of birdies over the last four holes propelled Louisiana Tech up the leaderboard, finishing round one in third on Monday at the 2025 Conference USA Men's Golf Championship.
 
LA Tech was in seventh going into the home stretch at the Texarkana Country Club.  But then the Bulldogs got hot, combining to shoot eight under over the last four holes to card 288 (E). 
 
The hottest of them was Niilo Maki-Petaja.  The sophomore was even through 14 holes before finishing his round with four straight birdies to shoot 68 (-4) and put him in a tie for second on the player leaderboard. 
 
It marked the 21st round at or under par for Maki-Petaja, tying the single-season program record.  It also tied for the third lowest round in a CUSA Championship in program history.
 
Fellow sophomore Jake Plumb was steady all day.  He capitalized on the Par 5s, shooting two under, while also tacking on a birdie on the Par 4 No. 18 to shoot 73 (+1). 
 
Matching the one over was Morton Bailey.  The freshman was two over through 14 with zero birdies until he sank a couple on No. 15 and No. 17 to help shoot 73 (+1). 
 
The fourth scorecard used was that of Riley Hnatyshyn.  The junior overcame a tough stretch in the middle of the front nine to shoot 74 (+2), thanks in large put to back-to-back birdies on No. 16 and No. 17. 
 
Liberty owns an 8-stroke lead after shooting 11 under (277) for round one.  Middle Tennessee is in second after shooting three under (285).
 
NOTABLES

• For round one, LA Tech ranked third in Par 4 (4.06) and Par 5 (4.75) averages.
• LA Tech shot Even par (288), marking the seventh round at or under par ever in a CUSA Championship for the Bulldogs.
• Niilo Maki-Petaja shot four under (68), his 21st round at or under par this season which ties a program record.  It marked the eighth time this season the sophomore has shot four under or better in a round.
• Niilo Maki-Petaja made seven birdies, the most of anyone in the field.  It also tied for the third most birdies made in a single round by a Bulldog this season (third time Maki-Petaja has made 7+ birdies in a round).
• Oskari Schuvalow made his third eagle of the season, which came on the Par 4 No. 17.  It was one of only two eagles made in round one.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will be paired up with Liberty and Middle Tennessee for round two.  The first Bulldog will tee off at 8 a.m. CT from hole one.
 
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