MONMOUTH, Ill. ­— Playing in his first collegiate tournament, first-year Thomas Lyaudet carded a one-over 72 on Saturday to tie for the lead at the conclusion of the first round of the Fighting Scot Fall Invitational. He and his teammates all finished among the top 11 individuals and combined to sink 14 birdies to hold a 15-stroke lead over the 11-team field at 8-over par (292).

Although Lyaudet provided just one of those birdies, he was remarkably consistent with 15 pars. Junior Pranav Nandakumar, an all-conference performer last spring, was nearly as steady with 14 pars and one birdie to finish a stroke behind Lyaudet in a tie for third with another first-year, Diego Carrillo, who produced four birdies and nine pars.

Junior Gabriel Newman ended the 18 holes in a tie for seventh with a 74 (+3) while leading the Prairie Fire with five birdies to his credit. Rounding out the fivesome was sophomore Nathaniel Zug at 4-over par (75) with a trio of birdies.

• Carl Sandburg College sits in second place at 23-over par (307).
• Briggs Bossert of host Monmouth is tied with Lyaudet for the individual lead.

The second and final round will tee off at Gibson Woods Golf Course at 9 a.m.