BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — The No. 19-ranked Harding men's golf team opened the 2026 Great American Conference Championships on Sunday, carding a 12-over par 300 to sit in a tie for fourth place after the first round at Forest Ridge Golf Club.

The Bisons, the only nationally ranked team in the field, find themselves in a chase position heading into the final two days. Harding sits 12 strokes behind opening-round leader Arkansas Tech, which finished the day at even-par. Northwestern Oklahoma State is in second (+9), followed by Southwestern Oklahoma State (+11). Harding is currently tied with Southern Arkansas.

Junior Dennis Staykov led the way for the Bisons, firing a 1-over 73 to end the day in fifth place. Staykov remained consistent throughout the day. He carded an even-par 36 on the front nine before finishing with a 37 on the back nine.

Senior Jose Manuel Peralta is just one stroke behind Staykov, sitting in a tie for eighth place at 2-over 74. Peralta matched Staykov's efficiency on the front side, turning in an even-par 36 to stay within the top 10.

Jose Arzu joins them in the top 15, ending the round tied for 13th at 3-over 75. Arzu was also even through the turn but was hampered by a double-bogey on the par-5 18th hole. Austin Bibb (+6, 78) and William Pulley (+8, 80) rounded out the Harding scorecard.

The second round is scheduled to begin Monday morning at 8 a.m.

Harding Individual Scores 5. Dennis Staykov: 73 (+1) T8. Jose Manuel Peralta: 74 (+2) T13. Jose Arzu: 75 (+3) T37. Austin Bibb: 78 (+6) T49. William Pulley: 80 (+8)