KINDER, Louisiana – The Huskies opened the Koasati Pines Intercollegiate hosted by Nicholls with back-to-back under par rounds of one-under par, 287, and five-under par, 283, to sit in 4^th place heading into the final round. The six-under par finish on the 36-hole day one is the best opening day of the spring campaign for the Huskies and lowest total since the 2023 La Tour Intercollegiate where HCU finished 4^th place. The Huskies tallied 38 total birdies as a team on opening day shooting 14-under par average on the par-5s, 4.65 scoring average, and sit 10-shots back of the leaders.

The Huskies are led by Benjamin Dabos sitting in a tie for 7^th place posting back-to-back two-under par rounds of 70 on opening day. The freshman tallied the second most birdies on day one with 11 birdies and is tied for the best performance on par-3s for the tournament finishing 1-under par total, 2.88 average on all par-3s. The Argentina native got off to a fast start with a birdie on his opening hole, the par-4, 4^th hole, before rolling in another birdie at the par-4, 6^th hole. A trio of birdies at the 9^th through the 11^th holes got Dabos to five-under par through eight holes and held the individual tournament lead. Back-to-back blemishes at the 13^th and 14^th holes before knocking in a birdie at the par-3, 16^th hole; Dabos posted an even-par back nine hole with a bogey at the 18^th hole. Bouncing back quickly, Dabos made a birdie at the par-5, 1^st hole, before a double-bogey at the 2^nd hole carded Dabos a two-under par, 70. A string of pars to start the second round followed by a birdie at the par-5, 9^th hole; Dabos sat a three-under par through 24 holes. After a birdie at the par-3, 12^th hole, to recover from a bogey at the 11^th hole, Dabos rolled in another birdie at the par-4, 15^th hole to post a one-under par back nine holes. Another birdie at the 1^st hole cancelled by a bogey at his last hole, the par-3, 3^rd hole, Dabos recorded his second under par round of the tournament and sits at four-under par, five-shots back of the leader, heading into the final round.

Ben Caton continues his great form posting rounds of two-under par, 70, and even-par, 72. The two-under par opening round is the senior's fourth under par round in seven competitive rounds and with an even-par round in the second round, Caton has carded eight-consecutive rounds of even-par or better. The Scotland native found his rhythm early with a birdie at the par-5, 1^st hole. Eight straight pars to close out the front nine holes, Caton made the turn at one-under par. A bogey at the 12^th hole followed by a birdie at the par-4, 15^th hole, Caton finished the opening round with a birdie at the last, the par-5, 18^th hole. In round two, Caton picked up right where he left off with a birdie at the 1^st hole. A string of five straight pars before a bogey at the 7^th hole rebounded with a birdie at the par-5, 9^th hole, Caton posted a one-under par front nine  for the second straight round. A birdie at the 10^th hole to start the back nine followed by a bogey at the 12^th hole, Caton finished round two with a double bogey at the 17^th hole before minimizing the damage with a birdie at the 18^th hole. Caton leads the 64-player field in par-5 scoring with a 4.25 average, six-under par total and sits in a tie for 11^th place at two-under par.

After a one-over par, 73, in the opening round including birdies at the 6^th and 11^th holes; Brooks Pawlak carded a two-under par, 70, in the second round to finish the day under-par. Starting at the 3^rd hole, the freshman rolled in a birdie at the 6^th hole for the second consecutive round before adding back-to-back birdies at the 11^th and 12^th hole to get to three-under par for the round. A double bogey at the 14^th hole before rallying with a birdie at the par-3, 16^th hole, the Kingwood native completed the back nine holes at even-par with a bogey at the 17^th hole. A birdie at the par-5, 1^st hole, gave Pawlak a two-under par, 70, in the second round. Pawlak is tied with Dabos leading the field in par-3 scoring average with a 2.88 average, one-under par total and sits in a tie for 16^th place at one-under par for the tournament.

After a two-over par, 74, in the opening round, Cooper New fired his lowest round of the spring with a one-under par, 71, in the second round. The senior carded three birdies in the first round at the 10^th, 15^th and 18^th holes before knocking in four birdies in the second round at the 4^th, 11^th, 15^th and again at the 18^th hole. The Comfort native sits in a tie for 22^nd place at one-over par through 36-holes.

Rounding out the Husky lineup, Mason Napier posted rounds of two-over par, 74, and one-over par, 73, to sit in a tie for 36^th place at three-over par. The sophomore tallied six birdies on opening day with four birdies coming in the second round at the 10^th, 15^th, 18^th, and 1^st holes. The Paris native was the only Husky not to record a double-bogey and recorded 21 total pars on day one.

Competing as an individual, Roy Barrera opened the week with a three-over par, 75, including three birdies at the 2^nd, 7^th, and 11^th holes. The sophomore bounced back with a one-under par, 71, in the second round tallying six birdies. Starting at the 16^th hole, the Boerne native made a bogey at the 18^th hole before recording a stretch of six birdies in 10 holes starting with a birdie at the 1^st hole. After a bogey at the 3^rd hole, Barrera carded three birdies in a row at the 4^th through 6^th holes before birdies at the 8^th and 10^th holes to post a one-under par, 71, in round two. Barrera is tied for 31^st place at two-over par heading into day two.

SFA and SLU are tied for the team lead through 36-holes at 16-under par. Abilene Christian sits in 3^rd place at eight-under par, eight-shots back of the leaders. SFA's Cameron Hubbard holds the individual lead at nine-under par posting rounds of 66-69 to sit two-strokes clear of SLU's Landon East and Texas Southern's Liam O'Rourke at seven-under par.

The final round of the 2024 Koasati Pines Intercollegiate will commence at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The Huskies will compete alongside SFA, SLU, and Abilene Christian starting on holes one through five. Roy Barrera will compete alongside Nicholls, ACU and SLU starting at the 16^th hole.

Live stats are available at Golfstat.com!