LAS VEGAS, Nev. – No. 1 Virginia combined to a shoot a 11-under, 277 on Sunday (March 1) and is in first place after round one of the Southern Highlands Collegiate. Graduate student Paul Chang shot a 66 to match a career best and sits atop the individual leaderboard.
Chang totaled eight birdies, the most of any player in the field and fired a 66 in the first round for the second consecutive tournament. It marked the third time he matched his career low (2024 Inverness Collegiate & 2026 Puerto Rico Classic). Chang has a one-shot lead over Harry Takis (San Diego State) and Jackson Koivun (Auburn), the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked players in the Scoreboard powered by Clippd individual rankings, respectively.
Senior Ben James, the No. 3 player in the Scoreboard powered by Clippd rankings, is tied for fourth after he carded a 4-under 68. His day featured an eagle on the third hole of the day, a 620-yard par five. He was 5-under on the course’s four par fives on the day, the best of any player in the field. James is one of six players to shoot a 68 or better and is within two shots of the lead.
Making his third start for the Cavaliers in the 2025-26 season, sophomore Maxi Puregger was 1-under on the day with a 71. It was his seventh round under par this season, matching his total for the entirety of 2024-25. Just one stroke behind him was junior Josh Duangmanee who was shot an even-par 72.
UP NEXT
Round two of the Southern Highlands Collegiate is scheduled for Monday (March 2) with tee times beginning at noon ET.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- A Cavalier has shot a 66 or better in all four competitive rounds this spring.
- The Cavaliers are among nine nationally ranked teams in the field at Southern Highlands including the top four in the country (No. 1 UVA, No. 2 Auburn, No. 3 Florida & No. 4 Texas)
LEADERBOARD
|
PL. |
TEAM |
RD 1 |
TO PAR |
|
1. |
Virginia |
277 |
-11 |
|
2. |
Auburn |
282 |
-6 |
|
3T. |
Washington |
283 |
-5 |
|
3T. |
Florida |
283 |
-5 |
|
5. |
Illinois |
287 |
-1 |
|
6T. |
Texas A&M |
288 |
E |
|
6T. |
Pepperdine |
288 |
E |
|
8. |
Texas |
290 |
+2 |
|
T9. |
UCLA |
292 |
+4 |
|
T9. |
Georgia |
292 |
+4 |
|
T9. |
UNLV |
292 |
+4 |
|
T12. |
New Mexico |
293 |
+5 |
|
T12. |
San Diego State |
293 |
+5 |
|
T12. |
South Carolina |
293 |
+5 |
|
15. |
Oklahoma |
298 |
+10 |
VIRGINIA
|
PL. |
PLAYER |
RD 1 |
TO PAR |
|
1. |
66 |
-6 |
|
|
T4. |
69 |
-3 |
|
|
T20. |
71 |
-1 |
|
|
T27. |
72 |
E |
|
|
T32. |
73 |
+1 |