LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Led by an even-par 72 from Eric Austin, the Fairfield University men's golf team sits in a tie for third place after the opening round of the 2016 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship. The Stags are two strokes off the pace following the first day of the three-round tournament at Disney's Magnolia Golf Course in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Austin's 72 positions him two strokes behind Jon Keyes of Manhattan and Nicholas Dillo of Saint Peter's, both of whom carded a 70 (-2) this morning. Kevin Kramarski, who won the McLeod Memorial Award in 2015 as the individual medalist of the MAAC Championship, also turned in a 72 to share third place with Austin.

Thomas Urciuoli also cracked the individual top-10 with a 75 (+3), and Kevin Duncan wrapped up play in the top half of the 45-golfer field with an 18th-place round of 77 (+5). Rounding out the action for Fairfield on Friday were Alex Ferrante (80, +8) and Kellen Jordan (82, +10).

The Stags aggregated a 304 in the first round of play. With 36 holes left to go, the entire team field is separated by just 16 strokes. Manhattan sits atop the leaderboard with 302.

Fairfield will tee off in the second round from Disney's Magnolia Golf Course on Saturday morning. Sunday's final round will feature live coverage on ESPN3.