LA QUINTA, Calif. (February 16, 2026) – The University of North Alabama men's golf team finished right outside the top half of the field on Monday in the opening round of The Prestige tournament held in La Quinta, Calif. 

After playing 18 holes, the Lions finished tied for 13th with an eight-over day to lead No. 25 Wake Forest, No. 45 Northwestern and No. 46 Colorado, among others. 

Junior Andrew Ferworn leads the Lions with an even day as he finished 22nd with three birdies; he shot a 34 on the front nine, forged together with a birdied and eight pars. Currently, the Houston, Texas native sits tied with the seventh and eighth best players in collegiate golf from Texas Tech, Connor Graham and Adam Bresnu. 

North Alabama did not tee off until near 2 p.m. central time as other teams were close to finishing up for the day, one being Oregon State. The Beavers took a commanding lead on day one with a nine-under for the first 18.

However, the afternoon was hit by weather that the early day teams did not have interfere with their play. At times, 40 mile per hour winds and rain were apart the afternoon round that North Alabama had to trek through. 

The Lions hung around the top-10 for the majority of the day before settling a few positions back. However, UNA is only three strokes off from 10th place Iowa State who sits at five-over.

After Oregon State, Oregon takes second with a two-under day with UNCW one stroke behind them in third. Kansas State, No. 28 Stanford and No. 44 Little Rock all finished even for the afternoon. Only these six of the 24 teams in the tournament shot even or under par for the first round. 

No. 47 Kansas sits alone in seventh at one-over while Gonzaga and No. 48 San Diego tied for eighth at three-over. After Iowa State in 10th, No. 34 Clemson is one stroke behind the Cyclones but also one stroke ahead of Texas Tech who sits in 12th. Lipscomb tied UNA for the 13th spot.

The Lions took a two-stroke advantage over No. 45 Northwestern and SMU who tied at 10-over. North Alabama sits wit a seven-stroke lead over No. 25 Wake Forest and an 11-stroke claim over No. 46 Colorado.

After Ferworn, true freshman Jedd Brady followed him in 42nd with a two-over day. He started hot on the back nine with two birdies to lead to a 35 score. 

Earning his first start this spring, true freshman Arthur Estes is tied with fellow Lion Sebastian Bengtsson in 56th with three-over rounds. Estas sank two birdies, while Bengtsson added one more. Xing Luo finished 10-over for the day to round the squad. 

"The guys played so good today," said The Schmitz Family head men's golf coach Austin Phillips. "The weather and wind was very difficult and I'm proud of how we played given the conditions. We got put in the much harder wave and had the third best score in the afternoon. Tomorrow looks better for our time and we are excited to try to make a run."

North Alabama continues round two tomorrow beginning at 9:40 a.m. before finishing the tournament on Wednesday.
 

The Prestige
PGA West - Norman Course
 

Team Leaderboard

1. Oregon State 275 -9

2. Oregon 282 -2 

3. UNCW 283 -1

T4. Kansas State 284 E

T4. No. 28 Stanford 284 E

T4. No. 44 Little Rock 284 E

7. No. 47 Kansas 285 +1

T8. Gonzaga 287 +3

T8. No. 48 San Diego 287 +3

10. Iowa State 289 +5

11. No. 34 Clemson 290 +6

12. No. 15 Texas Tech 291 +7

T13. North Alabama 292 +8

T13. Lipscomb 292 +8

T15. No. 45 NWU 294 +10

T15. SMU 294 +10

17. UC Davis 295 +11

18. Washington St. 297 +13

19. No. 25 Wake F. 299 +15

20. Princeton 300 +16

21. No. 46 Colorado 303 +19

22. Nevada 304 +20

23. Yale 314 +30

24. Colorado St. 326 +42

North Alabama Golfers
T22. Andrew Ferworn 71 | E
T42. Jedd Brady 73 | +2
T56. Arthur Estas 74 | +3
T56. Sebastian Bengtsson 74 | +3
T111. Xing Luo 81 | +10  
 

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.