Austin Peay State University Men's Golf Opens Lake Las Vegas Invitational in Eighth

Patton Samuels Leads Govs with One-Under 71

Feb. 24, 2026 at 5:03am

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The Austin Peay State University (APSU) men's golf team shot a six-over 294 in the opening round of the Lake Las Vegas Invitational, placing them in eighth place. Patton Samuels led the Govs with a one-under 71, while John Mark Mills shot even-par 71. The team is two shots ahead of ninth-place Kansas City and five shots ahead of 10th-place Long Island.

Why it matters

This tournament is an important early-season event for the APSU men's golf team as they look to build momentum and compete against other top programs from across the country.

The details

Samuels carded a team-leading four birdies and finished the opening round tied for 11th at the par-72, 7,261-yard Reflection Bay Golf Club course. Mills, who also tallied a team-best four birdies, shot even-par 71 and finished the first round tied for 20th. Parker Elkins shot three-over 75 in his return to the lineup and is tied for 39th, while Jackson Wise posted the final counting score for the Govs with a four-over 76 to finish tied for 43rd after 18 holes.

  • The opening round of the Lake Las Vegas Invitational was played on Monday, February 24, 2026.
  • The second round of the tournament will take place on Tuesday, February 25, 2026, with the Govs teeing off at 10:00am.

The players

Patton Samuels

A member of the Austin Peay State University men's golf team who shot a one-under 71 in the opening round of the Lake Las Vegas Invitational.

John Mark Mills

A member of the Austin Peay State University men's golf team who shot an even-par 71 in the opening round of the Lake Las Vegas Invitational.

Parker Elkins

A member of the Austin Peay State University men's golf team who shot a three-over 75 in his return to the lineup in the opening round of the Lake Las Vegas Invitational.

Jackson Wise

A member of the Austin Peay State University men's golf team who posted the final counting score for the Govs with a four-over 76 in the opening round of the Lake Las Vegas Invitational.

Grady Cox

A member of the Austin Peay State University men's golf team who shot a five-over 77 in the opening round of the Lake Las Vegas Invitational.

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What’s next

The Govs will tee off for the second round of the Lake Las Vegas Invitational on Tuesday, February 25, 2026 at 10:00am.

The takeaway

The APSU men's golf team got off to a solid start at the Lake Las Vegas Invitational, led by strong individual performances from Patton Samuels and John Mark Mills. As they look to climb the leaderboard in the second round, the Govs will need to continue playing consistent golf to compete with the top teams in the field.