PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The University of Texas at Tyler men’s and women’s golf team finished third and eighteenth, respectively, on the first day of the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championships at the PGA Village in Port St. Lucie.

The men finished day one of the tournament tied for third place with Skidmore at three-over-par and with a team score of 291. The Patriots are just three strokes behind second place Redlands and 12 strokes behind current leaders Methodist.

Junior Brandon Ellis (Village Mills, Texas) and sophomore Matt Stephens (Mt. Belvieu, Texas) led the Patriots on the day by each finishing one-under-par (71). The Patriot duo is also in an eight-way tie for 12th place, individually.

The women finished day one with team score of 344 at 56-over-par. Sophomore Lisha Nigh (Mesquite, Texas) led UT Tyler on the day with an 85.

Both UT Tyler squads will resume play at the National Championships on Thursday. The men will move from the Dye to the Ryder course, while the women will stay on the Wannamaker course.