The UMSL men's golf team -- one week removed from taking runner-up honors at the Doc Spragg Invitational -- placed ninth among 18 teams Monday during opening-round action at the 2021 MSSU Fall Men's Invitational at the Shangri-La Country Club in Monkey Island, Okla.

As a team, the Tritons shot a 296 -- 15 strokes off the lead.

Reilly Ahearn tied for ninth place with his 71 and Joel Sylven tied for 35th with his 75.

Ian McCrary (75) Nick Hedberg (75) also tied for the 35th. Juan Antonio Padilla shot a 78, tying him for 71st.

Netting a first-place tally was Hutchinson Community College (281). Rogers State University was second with its 287 and Southern Arkansas was third with a 290.

Oklahoma Christian was fourth with a 292 and rounding out the top five teams was Henderson State (295).

A total of 80 golfers competed.

Tritons head coach Troy Halterman said the wind certainly played a factor in the flat Oklahoma landscape.

Said Halterman: [A] great golf course. Greens were tough and [the] wind was tricky. We made plenty of birdies but just too many mistakes."

Round 2

During round two action Monday afternoon, the Tritons stayed in seventh place with a two-round 594.

Ahearn, once again, lead the pack with his 76 (a 147 total), which was good for a 22nd-place tie. Hedberg was next with his 73 (a 148 total).

Sylven shot a 74 (tied for 32nd with his 149 total) and McCrary shot a 77 (tied for 51st with his 152 total) and Padilla added a 75, which tied him for 57th with his two-round total of 153.

The Tritons look to rectify the aforementioned mistakes on Tuesday and close out the tournament on a high note. Stay tuned for a day two recap.