LAS VEGAS, Nev. (SMU) – Sophomore Nathan Petronzio's four-under 68 fueled the SMU men's golf team's solid opening day at the Southern Highlands Collegiate, who ended the opening round tied for ninth against a 15-team field of some of the nation's best collegiate amateur teams.

The Mustangs (-6, 282) currently share the ninth-place spot with host UNLV and UCLA, and are six strokes ahead of 12-place USC, who hit an even 288. No. 1 Oklahoma ended the opening round in first place with a -20 268, and holds a five-stroke lead over second-place No. 5 Pepperdine.

AAC Freshman of the Year Petronzio hit par or better on 16 holes, logging six birdies and ending the day tied for eleventh. Petronzio found himself as high as fourth against the field through the opening seven holes with a two-under.

The sophomore's -3 performance on par fours proved the ninth-best of the field, averaging 3.7 strokes through ten par four holes at Southern Highlands.

Senior Justin Thompson and junior Prescott Butler both finished day one tied for 35^th at one-under 71. Thompson's performance included an eagle on the 18^th hole and birdies on nine and 12. SMU was one of six teams to notch at least one eagle through the first round.

Butler ended the opening round hitting par or better on 15 holes, and birdies on the third, fourth, seventh and 13^th.

Noah Goodwin shot an even-par 72, with four birdies on the seventh, 13^th, 16^th, and 18^th holes, shooting two under through the back nine. Both Goodwin and Thompson were as high as 19^th on the day, through the first seven holes.

Mustangs Head To Vegas For Southern Highlands Collegiate