LAS VEGAS – The No. 2 University of North Georgia (UNG) men's golf team finished in fifth place at the Las Vegas Desert Classic held at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder Creek, Nev. on Tuesday.

With a combined 15-under par score of 849, the Nighthawks came up just short behind No. 8 Lee (17-under), No. 6 Lincoln Memorial (19-under), No. 13 Florida Southern (20-under) and No. 1 Colorado Christian which won the event at 28-under par. 

In a field loaded with 10 of the Golf Coaches Association of America's (GCAA) top 25 teams, UNG topped five nationally ranked teams in the performance.

Senior Ethan Day highlighted the week with his third top-10 finish of the year as he came in a tie for ninth place at 6-under after a final-round 71 on Tuesday. The performance also marked Day's third time this season shooting below par in all three rounds of an event. 

Sophomore Colby Bennett posted a 1-under 71 as well on Tuesday to land in a seven-way tie for 19th among the 100 participating golfers. Bennett shot even par or better in all three rounds in the tournament, marking the third time he's done that this season and the second-consecutive event in which he's done so. The sophomore has now finished 19th or better in all six tournaments this season.

Junior Hunter Smith came in 30th place after a 1-over 73 on Tuesday as he still finished below par for the tournament at 1-under in total. 

Senior Hughes Threlkeld rebounded from a difficult first day on Monday with the lowest final round of any Nighthawk on Tuesday as he carded a 3-under 69 on the final day. Threlkeld bogeyed just one hole at 7,421-yard, par 72 Boulder Creek GC on Tuesday.

After their second consecutive finish outside the top four, the Nighthawks will look to rebound in the GCSU Bobcat Invitational hosted by Georgia College on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18.