A&M-Victoria men's golf battles wind to sit third after first day in Texarkana

TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas A&M–Victoria weathered windy conditions with gusts reaching 30 miles per hour Monday to close the first day of the Texarkana Invitational in third place at Texarkana Country Club.

Despite the challenging environment, the Jaguars placed multiple golfers inside the top 10 and remained firmly in contention entering the final round after going 325-324--649. They are eight shots back from Tyler Junior College in second with NCAA Division II Henderson State leading the way after a two-round score of 632.

Lucky Boonsrirat led the way for A&M–Victoria, finishing the day in fourth after rounds of 77 and 80 for a 157 total. Boonsrirat's steady ball striking produced four birdies and 19 pars, placing him among the event's leaders in both categories. His composure across the gusty stretches allowed him to climb the leaderboard as many in the field faltered.

Brandon Gratton put together rounds of 82 and 79 for a 161 total, ending the opening day in eighth. Gratton tied for the tournament lead with five birdies and excelled on the par 5s, where his 4.75 scoring average ranked among the best in the field. His strong finish to the afternoon round helped secure the Jaguars' position on the team leaderboard.

Paul Chopin contributed rounds of 85 and 84 while carding 20 pars, tying him for the third‑most on the day. His consistency provided a stabilizing presence in the middle of the lineup. Ethan Armendarez added consecutive 84s, and Florian Simon followed with rounds of 82 and 87 to round out the scoring.

The final round tees up at 8 a.m. Tuesday in Texarkana.