SALEM, S.C. – UCF's Luis Carrera and Johnny Travale turned in a pair of strong first rounds at the NCAA Men's Golf Regional Monday afternoon at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls in Salem, South Carolina.
Travale fired a four-under-par 68 and is tied for 13th, while Carrera carded a one-under-par 71 and is tied for 33rd.
Travale started his day with a birdie on hole No. 1 and closed out the front nine with birdies on hole No. 8 to sit even par at the turn. The Canada native took his game to another level on the back nine, recording five birdies.
The three-time American Athletic All-Conference selection tallied eight birdies to tie for the most among any player in the field.
Carrera dropped in four birdies and is one under after he was two over on the front nine and three under on the back nine. He birdied hole No. 3 and then made consecutive birdies on 10 and 11. Carrera was bogey free on the back nine with three of his four birdies on the final nine holes.
Hailing from Mexico City, Mexico, Carrera is competing in his third NCAA Regional and first as an individual, while Travale is also playing in his third regional of his collegiate career.
Carrera will tee off at 10:12 a.m. Tuesday morning in the second round and Travale will tee off at 10:34 a.m.
The top five teams and the low individual not on those teams from each regional will advance to the finals.
Team and individual medalist titles will be decided May 26-31 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Arizona State and The Thunderbirds are the hosts for the 2023 NCAA National Championships.