LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Colorado Mesa men's golf team continued its trek through the early spring season but headed to warmer climates. They completed the first round of the Las Vegas Desert Classic this afternoon (Mar. 6) at The Legacy Golf Club and as the weather warmed up so did the Maverick scores.
 
Colorado Mesa is in fifth place after the opening round after shooting a 2-under, 286 as a team. They are just four shots back of tournament leader and host Missouri-St. Louis who shot a 6-under, 282. The 19 team field consists of many nationally ranked opponents and the Mavericks are out in front of the likes of No. 6 Oklahoma Christian, No. 3 Arkansas Tech and No. 11 RMAC foe CSU Pueblo.
 
The Mavericks five scorers were all within five strokes of each other, but Dakota Gillman led the Maverick contingent on day one with a 2-under, 70. Gillman finished with six birdies against four bogeys on his card and closed his round with birdies in three of his last four holes.
 
Chris Tarmet and Pablo Diaz each carded matching 1-under, 71s. Tarmet was steady throughout the day with two bogeys, a birdie and an eagle on No. 17, the par-5 495-yard hole while Diaz birdied six holes but had five bogeys also.
 
Kyle Pearson played at No. 1 and finished at 3-over, 75. Pearson, like his teammate Chris Tarmet, eagled No. 17 also.
 
Tomorrow's round two is scheduled to begin at 9am.