GAINSVILLE, Ga. - The Union University men's golf team sits in 13th place after the first round at the 2024 NCAA D2 Men's Golf National Championships, South/Southeast Regional Tournament. The 3-round event is being played at the Chattahoochee Golf Club and features 20 teams with 108 golfers. 

This is Union's first appearance in the NCAA D2 Men's Golf National Championships. Union advanced to 11 NAIA Men's Golf National Tournaments before changing affiliations. Union is coming off a third-place finish at the 2024 Gulf South Championships, its highest conference finish. Union was ranked No. 7 in the NCAA D2 South Region Rankings, also its highest ranking, earning a bid to the nationals. 

Daniel Maybee led Union with four birdies in his first round of 1-under par, 71. JJ Zimmer, also at 1-under, 71, used three birdies in his round. The pair is tied for 13th after one round. 

Freshman Trace Robinson is 2-over, 74, for the first round with a pair of birdies. Gray Campbell and Timothy Pinkston are both 6-over. Pinkston had two birdies, while Campbell had one birdie. 

Union started slow, giving up 6-shots over the first few holes. However, the Bulldogs settled in, not losing any ground from that early 6-over start. Union at one point got down to 3-over, but finished the round 6-over. 

The second round will also be played Friday as a part of 36 continuous holes. Thursday's originally scheduled first round was washed out due to a large amount of rain, forcing two rounds to be played Friday. The final round will take place Saturday, May 11 with a tee time format. 

Union needs to finish in the top five to advance to the NCAA D2 Men's Golf National Championships Finals at Winter Garden, Florida, May 21-24. 

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