NORMAL, Ill. — Wabash opened play at the 2026 Illinois Wesleyan Invitational with a first-round team score of 308 Friday at Weibring Golf Club, finishing the day tied for 28th place in the 41-team field after 18 holes. The Little Giants sit at 20-over par entering Saturday's final round, matching Elmhurst and trailing 18th-place DePauw by seven strokes.

Freshman Finn Carteaux paced Wabash with a 3-over 74, tying for 63rd overall in the 248-player field. Carteaux produced one of the Little Giants' steadiest rounds of the day with five birdies, including red numbers at Nos. 1, 4, 8, 11, and 15. His round matched the second-best 18-hole score of his season and came just one shot off his personal season low of 73 set at the Music City Shootout in March.

Sophomore Mason Pierle followed with a 5-over 76 to tie for 109th place. Pierle carded three birdies in his round, highlighted by back-nine birdies at Nos. 10 and 17 after making the turn in 37.

Freshman Leo Dellinger and senior Liam McAllister each posted 6-over 77 rounds and are tied for 138th. Dellinger totaled four birdies on the day, including a strong closing stretch with circles on Nos. 15 and 17. McAllister also recorded four birdies, with birdies at Nos. 2, 7, 11, and 16 helping offset a difficult middle stretch.

Freshman Charlie Seaburg rounded out the team scoring with a 16-over 87, tying for 248th, while senior Lucas Ranard competed as an individual and shot 4-over 75 to tie for 82nd. Ranard's round included three birdies and finished four strokes better than his previous season low of 79, marking his best 18-hole score of his career. Freshman Jacob Eble also played as an individual and turned in a 10-over 81.

Tournament host and ninth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan leads the event after an opening-round 277 (-7), holding a nine-shot advantage over Gustavus Adolphus' B team.

Wabash returns to play at Ironwood Golf Club on Saturday  for the final 18 holes.