El Dorado, Ark. – The Delta State University men's golf team  wrapped up day one of the 2026 Arkansas Collegiate sitting tied for 10th place after 36 holes at Mystic Creek Golf Club in El Dorado, Arkansas.

The Statesmen were paced by a pair of consistent performances from Niko Salmi and Payne Bius, who each turned in two-round totals of 161 (+17) to lead the team through the opening day. Both golfers carded steady rounds and kept Delta State in the middle of a competitive leaderboard heading into the final round.

Ty Werynski added a 36-hole total of 165 (+21), highlighted by a steady opening round, while continuing to contribute to the team score. Additional scoring efforts rounded out the Statesmen lineup as they battled through a challenging course setup.

As a team, Delta State remained within striking distance of a top-five finish, with several teams tightly packed on the leaderboard after day one. With one round remaining, the Statesmen will look to climb the standings and close out the tournament strong.

Delta State returns to the course Tuesday for the final round of the Arkansas Collegiate