LIHU'E, Kaua'i - Senior Ryan O'Connor fired a 1-under 71 to lead the UC Irvine men's golf team on the first day of the John A. Burns Intercollegiate Thursday at Wailua Golf Course.
 
The 'Eaters are in 13th place after shooting a 298 in the first round. UNLV, which is 49th in the Golfstat rankings, leads the field at 18-under 270. They are 13 strokes ahead of No. 4 Texas A&M (283).
 
O'Connor finished with five birdies in the first round and sits in a tie for 18th. Junior Ramiz Jamal is also 46th after carding a 74 (2+).
 
Senior Jonathan Young opened the day with back-to-back birdies before closing out action at 3-over 75 (61st), while classmate David Kim shot a 6-over 78 (97th). Junior Jefferson Kao rounded out the Anteater contingent in 107th place as he recorded a 79 (+7) in his season debut.
 
UNLV's Shintaro Ban will enter tomorrow's second round at the top of the individual leader board as he posted a 7-under 65. He is two strokes ahead of teammate Harry Hall and Arizona's David Laskin.
 
UC Irvine continues the three-day John A. Burns Intercollegiate with a shotgun start Friday at 8 a.m. (HT)/10 a.m. (PT).