EATONTON, Ga. – The No. 2 University of North Georgia (UNG) men's golf team holds first place among the 15 teams in the GCSU Bobcat Invitational at The Golf Club at Cuscowilla On Lake Oconee after day one in the event. 

UNG had four different players shoot even-par or better over the first 36 holes at the 6,730-yard, par-70 track. 

With a combined score of 5-over, the Nighthawks lead No. 3 West Florida by a single shot and No. 8 Lee by four shots. No. 11 USC Aiken (11-over) and No. 21 Nova Southeastern (14-over) rounded out the top 5 after the first day. 

In the opening round, junior Hunter Smith tied the lowest round of the tournament thus far with a 4-under 66 as he birdied seven holes including 16, 17 and 18 to finish his round. The performance marked Smith's lowest round of the season to date.

Senior Ethan Day used a flurry of three birdies over a six-hole span on the front nine to finish with an even-par 70 through the first 18 holes.

In round two it was sophomore Colby Bennett who shined as the second-year Nighthawks jumped 16 spots on the leaderboard after a 2-under 68 that was loaded with five birdies.

Graduate student Jack Vajda made the biggest leap from rounds one and two as he soared 22 spots individually with a 1-under 69 to close the day. 

Bennett and Smith are tied for UNG's top spot individually as both golfers reside in ninth place on the 74-player leaderboard after day one. 

Day sits in 14th place after closing with a 2-over in 72 in Monday's final round, while Vajda's improvement earned him a tie for 21st. 

The event concludes with round three on Tuesday, March 18. UNG tees off at 8:30 a.m. in search of its third victory this season.