PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The No. 3 University of North Georgia (UNG) men's golf team sits in fourth place after 18 holes in the 2025 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

The Nighthawks combined to shoot 1-over par at the 7,074-yard, par-72 PGA National on Monday. 

No. 16 St. Mary's (TX) leads the field at 9-under par. No. 9 Florida Southern sits in second place at 2-under while No. 7 Lee sits one more shot back at 1-under.

UNG tied with No. 18 Missouri S&T and No. 13 Columbus State at 1-over par.

Junior Hunter Smith led the first-round scoring for the Nighthawks Monday. He used four birdies to finish with a 1-under 71 and in 11th place on the 108-player individual leaderboard.

Senior Hughes Threlkeld ended his round with a bogey free back nine that included a birdie at the par-4 16th to contribute to a 72 on day one.

Also entering the clubhouse with an even 72 Monday was senior Ethan Day who recorded the only Nighthawk eagle of the day at the par-5 10th hole. 

Day and Threlkeld sit in a tie for 20th place individually ahead of the second round.

Sophomore Colby Bennett was the final scoring golfer Monday for UNG. He finished with a 2-over 74 in the opening round. 

The Nighthawks will tee off at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday in round two of the stroke play portion of the championship. The top eight teams after 54 holes among the 20-team stroke-play field will qualify for the medal match play bracket portion and compete for a National Championship.