James Rico and UNCW Lead After Opening Round of 2026 CAA Men’s Golf Championship
Dylan Smith
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | RESULTS
VIDEO RECAP | LIVE STATS (CLIPP’D) | PAIRINGS/TEE TIMES
ST. HELENA ISLAND, S.C. – Just five strokes separate the top five teams, with UNCW leading the way through the opening round of the 2026 CAA Men’s Golf Championship at Dataw Island Golf Club in St. Helena Island, S.C.
The Seahawks flew to the top of the standings with one of the best rounds in tournament history as a team, shooting a 12-under 276.
James Rico put together one of the top individual performances in the championship’s history with a bogey-free 6-under 66 for the afternoon. The senior holds a one-stroke edge in the individual standings, while
Grey Mitchum rounds out the top 10 with a 3-under 69. UNCW’s
Ethan Boyette was one of six golfers to notch an eagle on the day, logging two of the tournament’s seven in the opening round with eagles on the par-5, seventh and 13
th holes.
Campbell checked in one stroke back at 11-under 277, with
Erik Johansson sitting tied for second at 5-under 67. The junior also joined Boyette among those to drain an eagle in competition, helping his bogey-free front nine.
William Sundborn opened his day with an eagle on the very first hole, shooting the green on his second shot and sinking the attempt. The junior is tied for fourth at 4-under 68, while fellow Camel
Joachim Larsen Tegner sits right behind him in a six-way tie for ninth at 3-under 69.
Towson rounds out the top three with a 10-under 278, led by
Ariihau Faana with a 5-under 67 on the day, including four of his round-high eight birdies on a bogey-free back nine.
Sky Aung also turned in a solid first-round score of 4-under 68 and birdied on three of his first five holes.
Charleston’s
Nevill Ruiter also sank an eagle on the par-5, seventh hole, while fellow Cougar Jules Lauer closed out the afternoon with one of his own on 18. Campbell’s
William Sundborn opened his round with a two-stroke finish on the par-4, first hole. Teammate
Erik Johansson
Elon’s
Landon Durham and
Jack Wieler helped their team to a fourth-place mark (-8) through one round of action. The duo both shot a 3-under 69, with Durham sinking an eagle on his third shot of the par-5, third hole.
Dylan Lewis and
William Carr also carded a 1-under 71 for the afternoon.
Charleston saw all five of its golfers shoot even or better as Johan Bredenkamp’s 3-under 69 led the charge. The Cougars worked their way to 7-under 281 with a pair of 2-under 70s from
Nevill Ruiter and
Miles Eubanks. William & Mary’s
Talon Dingledine joined the pack rounding out the top 10 at 3-under, while
Preston Burton also wrapped up round one at 2-under. North Carolina A&T’s Jorge Emilo Hernandez and Ignacio Zapata rolled through the first round as both finished at 4-under.
More than half of the field shot par or better in the opening round, with all 10 teams rostering one player who turned in a card under par.
Action tees off at 8:30 a.m. from the first hole at Dataw Island Golf Club.
Team Leaderboard
1. UNCW 276
2. Campbell 277
3. Towson 278
4. Elon 280
5. Charleston 281
6. William & Mary 287
7. North Carolina A&T 288
8. Drexel 292
9. Hofstra 293
10. Monmouth 299
Individual Leaderboard
1 James Rico, UNCW 66
T2. Erik Johansson, Campbell 67
Ariihau Faana, Towson 67
T4. Ignacio Zapata, Towson 68
William Sundborn, Campbell 68
Jorge Emilo Hernandez, N.C. A&T 68
Ethan Lee, Monmouth 68
Sky Aung, Towson 68
T9 Six Players Tied 69
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