WARREN, Ohio - The Bethany College men's golf team competed in the first round of the 2026-27 Presidents' Athletic Conference Men's Golf Fall Championships at Avalon Lakes Golf Course.

Bethany opened the 2026-27 PAC Championships with a team score of 318 (+30) in Round 1 as the Bison sit tied with Waynesburg (Pa.) University at seventh in the team standings. Saint Vincent (Pa.) College and Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) College are tied at first after one round of play with a five-player score of 298 (+10) while Allegheny (Pa.) College sophomore Christopher Hoffman tops the 55-player field with a score of 69 (-3). 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 18-21 at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia.

All-PAC senior Jude Smith (Weirton, W.Va./Weir) shot an even 72 in the first day of competition which currently ranks second among individual golfers. Smith shot four birdies and 10 pars on the day in which he penciled in a 35 on the front nine and a 37 in the final nine holes to close Day 1.

Academic All-PAC senior Sam Phillips (Charleston, W.Va./Herbert Hoover) and freshman Jacob Bursey (Winchester, Va./James Woods) each fired an 81 (+9) with one birdie to place 33rd while also adding 10 pars and nine pars, respectively.

Sophomore Brayden Roberts (Franklin, Ky./Franklin-Simpson) and senior Payton Hildebrand (Wellsburg, W.Va./Wheeling Central Catholic) rounded out the Green and White team score with a round of 84 (+12) each. Roberts posted eight pars and two birdies while Hildebrand recorded seven pars and two birdies.

The Bison are back in action on Tuesday, October 13 as they travel to Warren, Ohio to continue the Presidents' Athletic Conference Fall Championships at 10:30 a.m. at Avalon Lakes Golf Course.