Branson, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Lions golf team sits in sixth place following the opening round of the Payne Stewart Invitational at the Branson Hills Golf Course.

The Lions are in the middle of the 12 team pack with a first round score of 303, they are just four strokes out of a tie for second at 15-over. Leading Southern is junior Taylor Lansford who is tied for eighth with an even par 72. Sophomore Connor Neil is tied for 18th with a first round of 75, 3-over, and senior Ethan Hutcheson is one stroke back in a tie for 27th with a first round score of 76, 4-over. Junior Cameron Hamilton, playing as an individual, is the next Lion on the leader board with a share of 32nd with a 5-over 77 first round. Freshman Tristan Haltom carded a first round of 8-over 80 while red shirt freshman Grant Seifried rounded out the team with a 14-over 86.

Central Missouri leads the tournament with a first round 11-under 277. In second place is Southeastern Oklahoma who carded a first round of 11-over 299 and they are followed by Henderson State and Arkansas Tech, both carded first rounds of 300 12-over. Midwestern State of the LoneStar Conference is in fifth place one stroke back at 13-over 301 followed by Southern in sixth. Harding finished the first round in seventh with a 16-over 304 and followed by MIAA member Lindenwood in eight at 17-over 305. The Great Lakes Valley Conference member Rockhurst is in ninth with a 20-over 308 followed by Lincoln in tenth at 23-over (311), Arkansas-Monticello in 11th at 24-over (312), and Southwest Baptist rounds out the 12 team field with a first round of 324 (+36).

Central Missouri has four individuals in the top seven with Teddy Jones leading the 67 player field with a 5-under 67 first round.

The Lions will finish the fall season tomorrow as the tee off for the final round of the Payne Stewart Invitational at Branson Hills Golf Club.