The Red Raiders dominate Hawaii's opening roundas four golfers shoot under par, propelling Texas Tech into contention at the Amer Ari Invitational.
Texas Tech men’s golf wasted no time making noise in Hawaii.
The No. 16 Red Raiders delivered a red-hot opening round at the Amer Ari Invitational, carding a team score of 21-under-par on Thursday at Mauna Lani’s North Course and placing themselves firmly in the mix against one of the strongest fields of the spring.
The fast start has Texas Tech tied for fourth in the 20-team tournament, even though the leaderboard is crowded near the top.
Auburn surged to an opening-round lead at 32-under, but the Red Raiders’ balanced scoring kept them within striking distance heading into Friday.
What stood out most was the depth across the lineup. Four Texas Tech golfers posted counting scores under par, and all four finished the day inside the top 30 individually among a 122-player field.
Adam Bresnu led the way with a 7-under 65, continuing his strong form and putting himself tied for ninth overall. Bresnu sits just four shots off the individual lead after one round.
Right behind him was Connor Graham, who fired a 6-under 66 and finished the day tied for 18th. Graham’s round featured steady scoring throughout and kept Texas Tech’s momentum rolling during the middle of the day.
Ben Gregg added a 4-under 68, while Tim Wiedemeyer matched that number to round out the four counting scores, giving the Red Raiders one of the most consistent scorecards in the field.
With sunshine, light winds and temperatures hovering in the low 80s, scoring was available for teams willing to stay aggressive.
The course, set at 6,913 yards, produced a first-round scoring average just over 70, and 19 of the 20 teams finished under par. Still, shooting 21-under in a field loaded with top-25 programs is no small feat.
Beyond the top four, Brady McHenry also contributed a solid 3-under 69, while individual competitor Simon Hovdal opened at 2-under.
The Red Raiders showed they have multiple players capable of posting low numbers, a critical ingredient for climbing the leaderboard over three rounds.
Texas Tech will look to build on that momentum when the second round begins Friday morning with a shotgun start.
With two rounds still to play, the Red Raiders are positioned to make a serious push as the Amer Ari Invitational unfolds on one of college golf’s most scenic - and competitive - stages.