The Palouse Collegiate Tournament began play on Sept. 10 at Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, with the Cougars jumping into third place by the end of the day.

WSU shot ten-under in the morning round, and six-under in the afternoon round. With a combined score of 16-under, they trail only Colorado and Utah going into the final round.

Senior Franklin Lydra finished the day with a score of six-under, putting him in eighth place. He scored seven birdies and went the entire second round without recording a single bogey.

Ben Borgida shot four-under-par. He was even in round one but improved in the second round with six birdies as opposed to just two bogeys. He finished the day in 20th overall.

Sam Renner got off to a hot start, scoring five-under in round one and looking like he’d be contending for an individual title. He was unable to replicate his seven-birdie performance from round one, and shot two over in round two, still good for a combined score of three-under and 28th place.

Freshman Garrett Harrison, making his WSU golf debut, shot an even round one before posting one-below in round two. He notched seven birdies and an eagle in his first collegiate tournament and goes into the final round in 37th.

Fellow freshman Dylan Burcham shot scores of one-under and one-over, to finish the day at par, tied for 48th place.

Also competing as individuals for the Cougs were Jakob Chicoyne, Drayton Joseph, and Tate Bruggeman. Chicoyne finished the day at one-under par, while Joseph scored par in both the first two rounds. Bruggeman shot three over, placing him in 70th.

The Cougars have five golfers below par going into round three, and two more with even scores. They will hope to fend off Wyoming and Oregon State to claim a top-three finish in their season-opening event.