SPRINGFIELD, Mo.- The Ave Maria University golf teams began the Evangel Spring Invitational on Monday, playing at the Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield, Missouri. Both teams have players in contention entering Tuesday's final round, with both male and female players sitting in the top ten after the first 18 holes of the 36-hole tournament.

On the men's side, three players enter the final round within seven shots of the lead. Jonah Manning is currently tied for eighth after shooting a seven-over 79 in the first round, while Gabriel DeCasas is two shots behind that at nine-over. Roch Aubert is tied for 16th, shooting an 82 in the first round. Ave Maria's other two golfers in the tournament are Thomas Baycroft (87) and Michael Lis-Planells (89). The overall leader is William Woods' Aaron Patel, who shot a 75. 

As a team, Ave Maria enters the final day of competition just 13 shots back of the lead. The Gyrenes are in fourth place with a team score of 329, trailing William Woods (316), Kirkwood CC (323), and host Evangel (327). AMU is in the middle of the field, with Westminster College, College of the Ozarks, and Hannibal-LaGrange trailing the Gyrenes.

In her first tournament as a Gyrene, Eliana Tetzlaff concluded the first round in a tie for fourth place. The St. Thomas (Minnesota) transfer was one of just six players in the field of 15 to break 100, shooting a 26-over 98. Alaina Irwin and Delaney Southers are both in the top ten as well, with Irwin shooting a 100 and Southers carding a 101. The individual leader is Ashley White of Evangel, who holds a one-shot lead over teammate Emma Oathout. 

Had the Gyrenes entered the needed four players into the tournament, Ave Maria would likely be in the thick of the team race. College of the Ozarks holds the overall team lead at 393, which accounts for an average team score of 98.25. Ave Maria's three players are averaging a 99.67 score, less than two shots per player back of the top team in the field.

Ave Maria's golf teams will conclude their trip to Missouri on Tuesday with the final round of the Evangel Spring Invitational. Upon returning to Southwest Florida, the Gyrenes will prepare for dual matches next week. The men will face Hope College next Tuesday in Naples, and the women will face Stevenson (Maryland) on Wednesday.