Western Kentucky senior golfer Stuart Easton picked up Monday where he left off in the fall, finishing the first day of South Alabama’s Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate tied for third individually.

That set the tone for the Hilltoppers’ best 36-hole showing in 14 years.

Easton fired a 6-under total of 138 (70-68) in Monday’s first two rounds at the par-72, 7,212-yard Magnolia Grove Crossings Golf Course.

The senior is one shot out of second place and five shots off the lead. He’s currently ahead of two top-100 golfers in the individual standings.

WKU is in third place as a team with a 13-under, two-round total of 563 (282-281). That’s the Hilltoppers’ best 36-hole scoring since shooting a 556 in spring 2005, and it’s the fifth best 36-hole scoring for the program since 1980.

WKU is five shots back of No. 27 Louisville and 10 strokes behind No. 39 Florida State, which leads the team field.

“We had a great day from the entire lineup,” WKU head coach Chan Metts said. “I think today shows the hard work our guys put in during the offseason. We are looking forward to the opportunity to play head-to-head against some great programs tomorrow.”

Easton is one of three Hilltoppers in the top 10 individually through two rounds.

Redshirt junior Linus Lo (70-70) and junior Tom Bevington (70-70) both tied their career lows for 36 holes with a pair of 140 totals, tying them for ninth.

Redshirt senior Billy Tom Sargent is tied for 35th at 145 (72-73), while redshirt freshman Dawson McDaniel carded a 153 (79-74) total.

The final round started Tuesday morning.

Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate First-Day Results

T3. Stuart Easton (70-68-138)

T9. Linus Lo (70-70-140)

T9. Tom Bevington (70-70-140)

T35. Billy Tom Sargent (72-73-145)

T70. Dawson McDaniel (79-74-153)