South Mountain set the tone early at the NJCAA Region I Men's Golf Championships, taking a commanding lead after the opening round.

The Cougars sit atop the team standings at 12-under, well ahead of the field. Chandler-Gilbert is in second at +7, followed closely by Mesa at +8, while Paradise Valley rounds out the standings at +18.

South Mountain's strong position is fueled by a dominant showing atop the individual leaderboard. Quinton Breuer and PJ Segerstrom are tied for first at 4-under, leading a group that features four South Mountain golfers in the top five.

Chandler-Gilbert's Max Palmer is in third at 3-under, providing the Coyotes a key scoring round to remain within striking distance. South Mountain's Hudson Ross and Cooper Perkinson are tied for fourth at 2-under, continuing the Cougars' early control of the tournament.

The Region I Championships continue with Round Two on Tuesday as teams battle for the title and national tournament positioning.