CANYON, TEXAS – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes opened up the 2026 NCAA Division II South Central/West Regional Championships on Thursday with a team total of 284 (-4) to sit second on the leaderboard at The Reserve at Spanos Park (Par 72 – 7,082 Yards) in Stockton, California.
 
Victor Estas led the way for the Buffs with a 69 (-3) as the junior registered four birdies along with an eagle on the 441-yard par four seventh hole to sit tied for third. Jack Lankford impressed for WT as the freshman shot in the red (-2, 70) with five feathers in the opening round to tie for ninth.
 
The Buffs led the field with 62 pars as they registered the second lowest scoring average on par threes (3.10). Western Washington shot a 283 (-5) to hold a one stroke lead over the Buffs entering Friday's second round. Liam Weaver of Cal State San Marcos holds the individual lead -6 (66) by two strokes over Lukas Taggart of Colorado School of Mines.
 
WT continues their pairing with Western Washington and CSU Pueblo on Friday with traditional tee times beginning at 9:30 a.m. CT
 
Buffs on the Leaderboard
T3 – Victor Estas – 69 (-3)
T9 – Jack Lankford – 70 (-2)
T29 – David Vega Gerstel – 72 (E)
T40 – Santiago Caride – 73 (+1)
T58 – Luis Palomo – 74 (+2)