WARREN, Ohio - The Bethany College men's golf team competed in the first round of the 2025-26 Presidents' Athletic Conference Men's Golf Fall Championships at Avalon Lakes Golf Course.

Today was the first of four rounds in the 2025-26 PAC Championships as the Bison placed eighth out of 10 teams with a combined score of 325 (+37) and will tee off for another round tomorrow to close the fall portion of the 2025-26 schedule. The defending PAC Champion Allegheny (Pa.) College sits in first after one round with a four-player score of 300 (+12). The combined 72-hole team totals determine PAC team champions and winners of the league's automatic-qualifying bids to the NCAA Division III Championships on May 12-15 at Mission Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. 

All-PAC junior Jude Smith (Weirton, W.Va./Weir) ended the first round tied for eighth overall out of 50 with a score of 75 (+3) to pick up right where he left off from last year's PAC Championships. His opening round consisted of eight pars and four birdies including shooting an even 36 on the back nine to lead the Bison.

Freshmen Ian Longo (Winchester, Va./James Woods) and Jacob Bursey (Winchester, Va./James Woods) each had solid days in their first career appearance in the PAC Championships with rounds of 79 (+7) and 83 (+11), respectively. Longo notched a team-best 10 pars with one birdie to tie for 19th overall and is four places out of an All-PAC selection. Bursey added two birdies with six pars to finish 34th overall. 

Junior Payton Hildebrand (Wellsburg, W.Va./Wheeling Central Catholic) wrapped up the Bison team score by carding a 88 (+16) with seven pars while junior Samuel Phillips (Charleston, W.Va./Herbert Hoover) also competed by penciling in a 89 (+17) with six pars.

The 2025-26 Presidents' Athletic Conference Men's Golf Fall Championships conclude tomorrow in the Second Round beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Avalon Lakes Golf Course.