LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Colin Prater and Kyle Southard recorded a 1-over 72 and No. 20 University of Colorado Colorado Springs recorded a team score of 9-over 293 after the first round of the 2016 NCAA Division II West / South Central Region Championships at the New Mexico State University Golf Course. The Mountain Lions are seventh in the team standings and one stroke out of the top five.

Southard went 3-under on holes three through six and finished with five birdies. He tied for the third-most birdies among the 108 golfers in his best opening round of a tournament since the Mustang Intercollegiate on April 4. Prater was even with two birdies on the back nine in his 72 today to match his season stroke overage. He has recorded 11 rounds this spring season with a 72 or better. The duo are tied for No. 15 in the individual standings and are four strokes off of the lead.

Zach Berhost was even on the back nine and recorded a 3-over 74 today. Zach Tripp finished with a 4-over 75 to wrap up the team score of 293. Chris Reina's 8-over 79 was dropped from today's team round.

The Mountain Lions are one stroke behind the fifth-place teams of Chico State and Dallas Baptist. UCCS is a stroke ahead of eighth-place California State-East Bay and three strokes ahead of the ninth-place teams of California State-Monterey Bay, Regis and Dominican. Oklahoma Christian is leading the field after a 2-over 286. The top five teams after Wednesday's third round will advance to the national championships.

UCCS will keep its team pairings with Chico State and Colorado Christian for Tuesday's second round with a noon tee time. Chico State and is the No. 1 team in the nation in the GolfStat rankings and one spot ahead of the Mountain Lions in the team standings. Colorado Christian recorded a 17-over 301 in today's round. Tuesday's round will start at hole 10.