AUGUSTA, Ga. — CIU men's golf team holds a slim lead after Monday's opening round of the NCCAA South Region Championship at Goshen Plantation Golf Course.

The Rams lead a field that includes Paine College (Ga.), Bob Jones University (S.C.) and Toccoa Falls College (Ga.), with Paine just two strokes behind on the leaderboard.

Nate Caughman paced CIU with an even-par 72 to stand second individually. Luke Hammond followed with a 77, while Braydon Hileman and Andrew Haarlow each shot 79 to complete the Rams' four counting scores. Santos Espinosa carded an 80 as CIU's fifth golfer.

The Rams will try to secure their third straight NCCAA South Region title in Tuesday's final round.