LOMPOC, Calif. -- OUAZ opened the 2026 GSAC Men’s Golf Championship with a 9-over-par 297 on Monday, taking an 11-shot lead after the first round at La Purisima Golf Course while Arizona Christian’s Hudson Hobbs claimed the individual lead with an even-par 72.

The Spirit set the early pace in the team race behind a balanced lineup that placed three golfers in the top 15. Tytan Birchell and Liam Toole each shot 1-over 73 to finish the day tied for second, and Nick Erickson added a 74. Hayden Hah and Grant Greazel both came in at 77, giving OUAZ the steadiest opening-round card in the field and a cushion over the rest of the conference entering Tuesday’s second round.

Arizona Christian sits second at 308, paced by Hobbs’ field-best round. He was the only player to finish at par or better during Monday’s play, giving the Firestorm a strong individual presence near the top of the leaderboard. Brock Auclair added a 75 to join a five-way tie for seventh and help keep Arizona Christian within range despite the gap behind OUAZ.

Embry-Riddle remained firmly in contention at 310, good for third place after 18 holes. Jonathan Tso matched Birchell and Toole at 73 to share second place individually, while Tyler Tamayori posted a 75 to stay inside the top 10. Behind the top three teams, Simpson and Park Gilbert were tied at 312, Benedictine Mesa followed at 313, and The Master's stood at 314, leaving a tightly packed chase group behind the leader.

La Sierra checked in at 320, led by Kyle Harford’s 74, which left him tied for fifth individually. Hope International finished the opening round at 334, and Soka shot 377. Across the leaderboard, several teams placed golfers in the mid-70s, including Benedictine Mesa, Park Gilbert and Arizona Christian, keeping the race for positioning unsettled even as OUAZ grabbed the first-day advantage.

Round two is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc, California.