HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. - The IUPUI men's golf team carded an opening round 300 at El Campeon at Mission Inn Resort on Sunday (Apr. 24) and is tied for fourth among the 10-team field heading into Monday's second round. Sophomore Taylor Gardner carded an impressive 2-under 70 and freshman Sam McWilliams notched a round of 72 in his first career conference tournament round. 

Gardner is tied for third overall and was one of 11 players in the field to shoot par or better on Sunday. McWilliams is tied for ninth among the 50-player field. 

Gardner made three birdies on his front nine and was even at the turn before draining a long eagle putt on the par-5 No. 10 to get to 2-under. A birdie on No. 13 got him to 3-under before he gave one back on a three putt on No. 17. An uneventful par on No. 18 ended his round at 70. 

Gardner was one of just three players to make an eagle on Sunday and tied for fifth among the field with four birdies. 

"My long game was really good, my wedges were pretty good," Gardner said. "I need to clean up my putting a little bit, but other than that, I hit the ball really solid.

"I knew if you got around on the front nine with close to even or somewhere around there that the back nine, you could make a lot of birdies and a couple chances for eagle - that really helped out for sure."

Uneventful best described the bulk of McWilliams' day as he blended 16 pars with a bogey and a late birdie to shoot 72. A close approach shot left him a makable birdie on No. 16, which he capitalized on. 

Senior Matthew Baxter shot 5-over 77, including a birdie on No. 10, as part of his day. 

Both Brock Aten and Colten Girgis carded rounds of 9-over 81 to round out the Jaguars' lineup. Aten made birdie on his opening hole of the day, but was unable to replicate it for the remainder of the round. Girgis battled his way to an 81 on a day in which he made just nine pars. 

Wright State leads the field at 6-under 282 and Oakland is second at 1-over 289. 

IUPUI is slated to tee off at 7:30 a.m. on Monday off No. 10 and be paired with Northern Kentucky for the second straight round.