CANYON, TEXAS – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes opened up the 2026 NCAA Division II South Central/West Regional Championships on Monday 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. Jackson Lankford impressed for WT as the freshman shot in the red (-2, 70) with five feathers in the opening round.
 
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)