MCKINNEY, Texas – A pair of strong performances from freshmen Arth Sinha and Nicholas Lyman helped UT Arlington men's golf go into the clubhouse with the lead after the first round of the 2026 Western Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championship. UTA finished with a 4-over-par 292, three strokes ahead of second-place Abilene Christian.

Sinha and Lyman were the only two players in the field to finish below par in the first round. Sinha is the individual leader in the clubhouse after carding a 4-under 68. Lyman — sitting in second place — shot a 2-under 70 in the opening round. Third place — Tarleton State's Alvaro Pastor — is two strokes back of Lyman.

The highlight of Sinha's round came on the 14th hole. The freshman eagled the par-4, one of just three eagles from the entire field and the only one coming on a par-4 with the other two coming on the par-5 third hole. The Melbourne, Florida-native also birded three holes.

Another key to Sinha's successful first round was the fact that the freshman tied the tournament lead in pars made with 13. Sinha's only bogey came on the 18th. The freshman was the only player under par on par-3 and par-4 holes, going 1-under and 3-under respectively. 

Lyman led the tournament in birdies made with seven while no other player in the field had more than five. The freshman made paydirt on par-5's, going 4-under on such holes — tied for the best score of the tournament — by making birdie on all four par-5's on the course.

The Surprise, Arizona-native is also one of three players that shot even-par on par-3's which is the second-best score on such holes in the tournament. Lyman shot a 1-under 35 on the front and back nine. 

A pair of Mavericks also finished in a tie for 21st. Ajay Morris heated up late in his opening round to finish with a 5-over 77. The freshman was one of three players to birdie five holes and one of four to go 3-under on par-5's. Morris' day was highlighted by a stretch of four birdies from the 13th to the 17th holes. 

Michael Chevalier matched Morris' round of 77, making par on 10 holes while birdieing a pair. The junior's day was highlighted by a 1-over 37 on the back nine. Matthew Broder capped off the UTA lineup with a 10-over 82. The junior is tied for 32nd going into day two.

The second round is slated to begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the Clubs of Stonebridge Ranch - The Dye Course in McKinney, Texas. Groups will begin at the first hole and tee off in 10-minute intervals. Jen Chie Huang will sub in for Broder and is scheduled to be the first UTA player to tee off, beginning play at 9:40 a.m. FOLLOW ALONG
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