EDMOND, Okla. (March 16, 2026) – Battling frigid conditions and an altered format, Lubbock Christian University positioned itself firmly in contention Monday, finishing tied for third after the opening round of the Oak Tree Invitational at Oak Tree Country Club.
Originally scheduled as a 54-hole event, the tournament was shortened to 36 holes after morning play was canceled due to single-digit wind chills, leaving teams to navigate a lone afternoon round to open competition. Lubbock Christian responded with a 299 (+11), matching Midwestern State University for third place in the 18-team field, just 12 strokes behind leader West Texas A&M University (287) and one shot back of second-place Oklahoma Christian University (B team, 298).
Competing on a 7,102-yard, par-70 layout in challenging winds, the Chaparrals leaned on consistency throughout the lineup, leading the field with 58 pars while limiting damage. LCU ranked tied for second in par-3 scoring (3.40, +8) and seventh on par-4s (4.32, +19), finishing with just 21 bogeys—among the lowest totals in the field. The steady approach kept the Chaps within striking distance entering Tuesday's final round.
Individually,
Hayden Bowman paced LCU with a 3-over 73 to tie for 10th, using an even-par 34 on the back nine to anchor the team's top round. Competing as an individual,
Grayson Henegar matched that total, also tying for 10th after opening with a 1-under 35 on the front nine.
Maximiliano Dufey followed with a 4-over 74 to place 17th, highlighted by 25 pars—tied for the most in the field—while also ranking among the leaders in par-3 scoring (2.88, -1).
Noel Bondesson and
Hudson Reagan each carded 6-over 76 rounds to tie for 30th, providing depth in the lineup. Reagan posted consistent 38-38 splits, while Bondesson closed with a 39 on the back nine.
Dylan Ford rounded out the scoring with an 80 (+10).
As a team, LCU also played the par-5s at 5.20 (+2) and will look to capitalize further on scoring opportunities in the final round to close the gap atop the leaderboard.
The tournament concludes Tuesday, with the final round scheduled for a 10:30 a.m. start.
