ST. HELENA ISLAND, S.C. - William & Mary men's golf fired its best opening round at the CAA Championships since 2002 and sits in sixth place after the first 18 holes on the Cotton Dike Course at the Dataw Island Club.
 
The Tribe shot a 1-under par 287, marking the program's 10th round under par this season. It was the best round at the CAA Championships for the Tribe since it shot at 3-under 285 in the second round at the Cotton Dike Course in 2021. It was the best opening round at CAA Championships for the Green and Gold since it shot a 1-under 287 in 2002 at The Crossings Golf Club in Richmond, Va.
 
Individually, two W&M players fired in red figures led by freshman Talon Dingledine's 3-under 69. It was the best individual round for a Tribe student-athlete at the CAA Championships since Preston Ball's opening round 69 (-3) in 2021. Dingledine birdied three of his first five holes, before adding a birdie, a bogey and seven pars on the back side. He sits in a share of ninth place. It was Dingledine's 12th round of par or better this season, which ranks fifth in school history.
 
Junior Preston Burton opened with a 2-under 70 to sit in 15th place. After starting his round with seven-straight pars, Burton made three-straight birdies on par 4s as part of four birdies in a five-hole stretch. He capped it with a 2 on the par-3, 183-yard 12th hole. The round was the 13th this season and 28th in his career of par or better. His single-season total is tied for second in program history, while his career mark is eighth.
 
Graduate student Matthew Monastero is tied for 29th after shooting a 1-over 73 on Sunday. He collected a pair of birdies on his second nine to finish strong with a 1-under 35. 
 
Freshman Eli Felty and sophomore Grady Williams each shot a 75 (+3) on day one to share 35th place. Williams posted three birdies on his opening nine holes to shoot a 1-under 35. Felty collected four birdies on his round, including three on the back nine to close out the day with a 1-under 35.
 
UNCW leads the CAA Championship thanks to a 12-under par 276 in round one and sit one shot ahead of Campbell (277 -11) and two clear of Towson (278 -10). The Seahawks' James Rico is the individual leader after opening of 6-under 66.
 
The Tribe tees off with fourth place Elon and fifth place Charleston in the second round on Monday, April 27, at 10:30 a.m.

CAA Championships
Cotton Dike Course at the Dataw Island Club
Par 72
 
Team Standings
1. UNCW -12 | 276
2. Campbell -11 | 277
3. Towson -10 |  278
4. Elon -8 |  280
5. Charleston -7 | 281
6. William & Mary -1 | 287
7. N.C. A&T E | 288
8. Drexel +4 | 292
9. Hofstra +5 | 293
10. Monmouth +11 | 299
 
W&M Results
T9. Talon Dingledine -3 | 69
T15. Preston Burton -2 | 70
T29. Matthew Monastero +1 | 73
T35. Grady Williams +3 | 75
T35. Eli Felty +3 | 75