ATHENS, Ga. | Alabama A&M University junior golfer Vincent Rodriguez started slow out of the gate during Monday's opening round of the 2026 NCAA Athens Regional at the UGA Golf Course, but battled back to card a 1-over par 72.
 
Rodriguez, who is tied for 39th, began his round on the front nine and got off to an up-and-down start with a bogey on No. 1. He followed that with a birdie, before a double-bogey on No. 3 and a bogey on No. 4 and No. 6. settled down and registered a birdie on the par-3, 190-yard No. 8 to complete the front nine with a 38.
 
The El Dorado Hills, Calif. shot 2 under on the back nine, with birdies at No. 12 and No. 15 to fire a 34.
 
Auburn's Josiah Gilbert leads the field by one stroke after carding a 6-under par 65. Louisville's Warren Thomis and Northwestern's Ethan Tseng are tied for second after shooting a 5-under par 66.
 
Rodriguez will compete in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Athens Regional on Tuesday from the University of Georgia Golf Course.
 
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