SIMPSONVILLE, Ky. – Lamar University's Eason Wang is tied for 10^th after Friday's first round of the University of Louisville Cardinal Challenge.
 
Wang fired an even-par 72 on the 7,192-yard layout at the University of Louisville Golf Club. His efforts helped the Cardinals end the day tied for sixth in the 13-team field at 8-over-par 296, 12 strokes behind Miami (Ohio), but just four strokes behind third-place Louisiana. The host Louisville Cardinals are in second place at 286. Eastern Kentucky is fourth at 294, one shot better than fifth-place East Tennessee State at 295.
 
"We had a very mediocre day," LU coach Jessie Mudd said. "We had a lot of three-putts and small mistakes that cost us a ton of shots.
 
"Tomorrow is a new day, and hopefully we will play ourselves back in the thick of this thing."
 
LU's Clay McCrory is tied for 17^th after a 1-over-par 73 on Friday. Sam Dumez posted a 2-over 74 to end the day tied for 29^th in the 79-player field. Cody Banach is tied for 54^th at 5-over 77, while Garret James is tied for 77^th after an opening-round 81. LU's Juho Kurikka, competing as an individual, shot a 77 to end the round tied for 54^th.
 
The day ended with a four-way tie for first place in the medalist race as Patrick Flavin of Miami (Ohio), Simon Zach of Louisville, Triston Elston of Louisiana and Erik Dulik of Louisville, who is competing as an individual, all shot a 4-under-par 68 in the first round.
 
LU is one of three Southland Conference teams in the field. Southeastern Louisiana is tied for eighth at 298, while Stephen F. Austin is 13^th at 308.
 
The tournament continues with 18 holes of play on both Saturday and Sunday.