SUWANEE, Ga. – Savannah State men's golf opened its 2026-27 season on Monday with the first round of the Thomas W. Dortch, Jr. HBCU Golf Classic at the Bear's Best Golf Club.
The Tigers finished the opening 18 holes in seventh place after shooting a team score of 326 (+38). LeMoyne-Owen and Winston-Salem State share the tournament lead after both programs carded opening-round scores of 296 (+8), while Virginia Union sits two shots back in third place at 298 (+10).
Lavelle Teague Jr. led the way for Savannah State, firing a six-over-par 78 to finish the opening round tied for 17th place on the individual leaderboard.
Teague finished just nine strokes behind opening-round leader J. D. Cunningham of Morehouse, who carded a three-under-par 69. Cunningham holds a one-stroke advantage over Virginia Union's Joseph Boone and Johnson C. Smith's D'Yanni Rhyne, who each shot two-under-par 70.
Quentin Brooks was one stroke behind Teague for Savannah State, finishing Monday's round with a seven-over-par 79. Brooks enters the final round tied for 22nd overall.
Justin Woods turned in an opening-round 81 (+9) to sit 30th in the individual standings.
Freshman Gauge Tailor-Simmons made his collegiate debut for the Tigers and completed his first round with an 88 (+16), while senior Nicholas Flowers rounded out Savannah State's lineup with a 96 (+24).
Savannah State's top four scores of 78, 79, 81 and 88 combined for the Tigers' opening-round total of 326.
The Tigers are 10 shots behind sixth-place Johnson C. Smith, which finished Monday at 316 (+28). Central State is fifth at 308 (+20), Morehouse holds fourth at 305 (+17) and Virginia Union is third at 298 (+10).
Monday's round marked the first tournament under new Savannah State head coach Kelly Allen and the first competition of the fall portion of the Tigers' 2026-27 schedule.
Savannah State will return to the course Tuesday for the final round of the Thomas W. Dortch, Jr. HBCU Golf Classic.
Savannah State – First Round Results
T17. Lavelle Teague Jr. – 78 (+6)
T22. Quentin Brooks – 79 (+7)
30. Justin Woods – 81 (+9)
34. Gauge Tailor-Simmons – 88 (+16)
37. Nicholas Flowers – 96 (+24)
Team Standings
T1. LeMoyne-Owen – 296 (+8)
T1. Winston-Salem State – 296 (+8)
3. Virginia Union – 298 (+10)
4. Morehouse – 305 (+17)
5. Central State – 308 (+20)
6. Johnson C. Smith – 316 (+28)
7. Savannah State – 326 (+38)
8. Fisk – 353 (+65)
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