WARRENSBURG, Mo. — Playing without 5th-year reigning Great American Conference Player of the Year and All-American Dennis Staykov, who was sidelined while recovering from an injury, the Harding men's golf team opened its 2026–27 season Tuesday at The Mule, hosted by Central Missouri at Mules National Golf Club.

The Bisons sit in 11th place in a 20-team regional field after posting a 36-hole total of 18-over 578 on the par-70, 6,399-yard layout. Harding opened with an 8-over 288 in the morning round and followed with a 10-over 290 in the afternoon. The Bisons trail 10th-place Minnesota-Crookston by just three strokes and are seven back of fourth-place Washburn heading into Wednesday's final 18 holes.

Central Oklahoma leads the tournament after carding an 18-under 542 (268-274), building a 15-stroke advantage over host Central Missouri (-3). Missouri Southern sits in third at 1-over, followed by Washburn (+11) and Sioux Falls (+12).

Third-year Austin Bibb paced the Bisons through Tuesday's 36 holes. Bibb opened with an even-par 70 before carding a 1-over 71 in the afternoon to sit in a tie for 15th place at 1-over 141. Bibb's opening 70 tied his collegiate career-best round and marked his fourth career round of par or better. He was especially sharp on the par 4s, tying for the tournament lead in par-4 scoring average at 3.75 (-4).

Second-year Drew Simmons also delivered a solid opening day in his Harding debut, sitting in a tie for 25th at 3-over 143. Simmons fired an even-par 70 in round one and added a 3-over 73 in round two.

Fourth-year Easton Denney, also making his Harding debut, shares 51st place with 4th-year Conner Geist at 7-over 147. Both golfers posted identical rounds of 74 and 73.

First-year Salvador Villagomez Gomez, making his collegiate and Harding debut, carded rounds of 75 and 80 to sit tied for 87th at 15-over 155. Gomez excelled on the par 5s, tying for third in the 100-player field with a 4.50 stroke average (-4).

Simmons, Denney, and Gomez were all making their Harding debuts Tuesday.

As a team, Harding collected 29 birdies across the two rounds and tied for seventh in par-4 scoring (4.10).

Central Oklahoma's Rhett Hughes, Will Whorton, and Nicholas Canales share the individual 36-hole lead at 6-under 134.

The final round of the 54-hole tournament will conclude Wednesday morning.