Sept. 14, 2005
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –
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The University of New Mexico men’s golf team hosts the 51st annual William H. Tucker Invitational at the University Championship Golf Course. A shotgun start will begin on Friday at 7:30 a.m., with tee times on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. Head coach Glen Millican will have two teams entered in the field. The first Lobo team will be made up of senior’s Mark Anderson and Jay Choi, junior Charlie Beljan, sophomore Robb Bierbaum and freshman Nick Geyer. The second team will consist of five freshmen including Jacob Lestishen, Travis Reid, Guillermo Chavez, Darrin Hall and Dan Saltz, while freshmen David Tiffenberg will play as an individual.
THE COURSE: The William H. Tucker will be played at the 7,350 yard, par-72 University Championship Course.
RESULTS: The results can be found on the University of New Mexico website at www.golobos.com. or on the golfstat website at www.golfstat.com
WILLIAM H. TUCKER FIELD: The 51st annual William H. Tucker will be made up of some of the top teams in the country including Arizona, BYU, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV and Texas A&M, who all played in the 2005 NCAA Championships, while Baylor, Colorado State, Denver, Fresno State and Texas Tech all made NCAA Regionals. The entire 20 team field will be made up of New Mexico, New Mexico JV, Colorado State, San Diego State, Baylor, Denver, Wyoming, Colorado, Iowa State, Arizona, BYU, Texas Tech, Northwestern, Nevada-Reno, Air Force, New Mexico State, Texas A&M, Fresno State, UNLV and UTEP.
TUCKER HISTORY: The William H. Tucker Invitational turns 51 years old this season, and the tournament continues to rank among the nation’s most prestigious and selective in-season college golf events in the country. The Tucker is the second-oldest college golf tournament in the country, behind only the New England Intercollegiate Golf Tournament. The tourney is named in honor of a great English golf course architect and former UNM groundskeeper, William H. Tucker. Held at The Championship Course since 1967, the event was previously held at the UNM North Golf Course from 1955-1966. The 1983 tournament marked a first for the Tucker and collegiate golf when the William H. Tucker Invitational became associated with a charitable organization: The American Cancer Society (a beneficiary of tournament profits the last 20 years). From 1955 through 1988 the tournament was a 72-hole format. The last 16 Tuckers have been adapted to a 54-hole structure, conforming with current NCAA standards. The host Lobos have won the Tucker on seven occasions, ranging from the school’s first title in the tournament’s inaugural year, 1955, to UNM’s most recent, coming in 2002. The University of Houston has captured the most Tucker titles, winning 13, all between 1957-1970. The field for the Tucker is typically championship-caliber, and 2005 is no different.
THE TUCKER AND CAMP ENCHANTMENT: Since 1983, the William H. Tucker Invitational has been working in conjunction with the American Cancer Society in an effort to raise money to benefit cancer victims in the state of New Mexico. Beginning in 1986, proceeds from the Tucker went into a program called Camp Enchantment, which provided sick children the opportunity to forget about their affliction for a week and enjoy life through friendships and discoveries in a safe and supportive environment. Each year, the American Cancer Society sponsors the week-long camp for children diagnosed with cancer. Between 70 and 80 children between the ages of seven and 16 make the pilgrimage to locations such as Taos and Alamogordo in anticipation of seven days of laughter and new adventures. The program is free to all families and subsists thanks to contributions from such entities as the William H. Tucker Invitational. While at Camp Enchantment, children are able to forget about treatments, forget about being different and just be kids. Enduring friendships are formed as campers share their experiences, even after camp has ended. The camp builds self esteem and confidence. The week-long experience allows community volunteers and underwriters to provide the children with new experiences and challenges. Caring and qualified volunteer counselors encourage everyone to stretch their abilities and learn new skills. Activities include swimming, horseback riding, arts and crafts, hiking, bowling, skating, rafting, ballooning, archery and field games. In 1997, the Tucker helped raise over $17,000 for Camp Enchantment and the American Cancer Society, and the figure was almost $18,000 in 1998. To further the link between the tournament and the Cancer Society, a group of trees at the practice area on the Championship Golf Course have been dedicated in the memory of the children who have died after attending Camp Enchantment. A plaque commemorating the event was dedicated on September 16, 1998.
Recent participants of the Tucker: The Tucker has seen current PGA star Tiger Woods of Stanford, who won the tournament in his first career college event in 1994; current PGA pro Matt Kuchar of Georgia Tech, who was the 1998 U.S. Amateur Champion and finished in the top-10 of the 1998 Masters; rookie professionals Michael Letzig of New Mexico and Ricky Barnes of Arizona who finished first and third, respectively, in 2002; 2003 NCAA champion Alejandro Canizares of Arizona State and 2004 NCAA champion and 2004 U.S. Pub Links and U.S. Amateur champion Ryan Moore of UNLV.
TUCKER TIDBITS: The 72-hole record at the Tucker is held by former Brigham Young golfer Bobby Clampett. Clampett fired a 278 (-10) in 1979. Tim Herron (New Mexico) set a course and Tucker record with a 62 in 1992 . His 54-hole total of 201 was also a Tucker record.LOBOS AT THE U.S. AMATEUR: The Lobos had three players compete in the U.S. Amateur in August. Jay Choi finished third in the stroke play portion and advanced to the round of 16 in the match-play section. Charlie Beljan also finished third in the stroke play portion but lost in the first round of match play. Darrin Hall struggled and failed to make the match paly section.
2004-05 REVIEW: In 2004-05 UNM showed that they were one of the premier golf teams in the country. The Lobos won five tournaments including their third consecutive Mountain West Conference Tournament title. UNM also advanced to the NCAA Championships for the fourth straight time with a second place finish at the NCAA West Regional. At the NCAA Championships the Lobos made the cut for the first time since 1997 and finished fifth for the best finish since 1979. The Lobos also earned a number one ranking in the Golfweek/Sagarin Index on September 22, marking first time in school history that they have been ranked number one and UNM never fell out of the top-5 all season long. The 2004 fall season began September 7-9, with a long trip to Fukushima, Japan for the prestigious Topy Cup. The trip was a successful one as the Lobos notched their first tournament victory holding off Auburn by three strokes. Junior Spencer Levin showed off his preseason All-American status winning medalists honors at 11-under par. Senior Miguel Griego and sophomore Charlie Beljan also finished in the top-10 at third and eighth, respectively. New Mexico next returned home to host the 50th annual William H. Tucker Invitational on October 1-2. UNM finished second at their home event falling just two strokes short of Arizona. Levin led the Lobos once again as he dueled with number one ranked Ryan Moore of UNLV but fell two strokes short in second place. Following a three-week layoff, the Lobos picked up competition again at the Nelson Invitational in Stanford, California, on October 22-24. New Mexico continued its good play winning their second tournament of the season by five strokes over UNLV. The group of Levin, Griego, Beljan, senior Jay Reynolds and junior Jay Choi set the 54-hole school record of 830 downing the old record by two-strokes. Levin continued to lead the Lobos winning medalists honors for the second time this season as well as carding the lowest individual 54-hole score in school history. Reynolds also joined Levin in the top-10 in a tie for fourth. UNM then closed out their fall season November 5-8, at the rescheduled Carpet Capital Collegiate in Rocky Face, Georgia. New Mexico struggled for the first time finishing outside the top-5 in eighth. Senior Madalitso Muthiya led the Lobos finishing tied for second and was the only UNM player in the top-20. The Lobos carried the momentum of an impressive fall right into the start of the spring season. New Mexico opened the spring on January 31-February 1, at the PING-Arizona Intercollegiate in Tucson, Arizona. UNM didn’t show any rust from the layoff as they won their third tournament of the season. The Lobos shot the sixth best 54-hole score in school history at 840 and held off BYU by two strokes. Levin again led the Lobos finishing second one stroke behind Alejandro Canizares of Arizona State. Joining Levin in the top-10 was Choi and Griego finishing tied for seventh and ninth respectively. Next up for UNM was the John Burns Intercollegiate in Wahiawa, Hawai’i, on February 23-25, where records continued to fall. The Lobos shot the third best 54-hole score in school history at 833 to win their fourth tournament of the season. Levin continued his hot play finishing second for the second consecutive week this time finishing behind UNLV’s Ryan Moore. Levin’s back-to-back 203 is tied for the eighth best individual 54-hole scores in school history. After nearly a month off the Lobos traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the Southern Highlands Collegiate on March 11-13. New Mexico couldn’t continue it’s early spring momentum as it finished in a tie for 10th, which is the lowest finish of the season. Levin was the lone bright spot for UNM finishing in a tie for sixth and was the only Lobo in the top-30. New Mexico would rebound at the Hall of Fame Invitational in Humble, Texas, on March 18-20. The Lobos against some of the nation’s top talent, finished in third place. Once again Levin was low man for UNM finishing in a tie for fourth. Beljan and Choi also played well finishing tied for 11th and tied for 20th, respectively. The final tournament in March for the Lobos was the National Invitational Tournament in Tucson, Arizona. New Mexico did not play it’s best golf of the season finishing sixth. Muthiya led UNM for the second time this season finishing tied for 12th. Beljan was the only other Lobo in the top-20 finishing tied for 19th. New Mexico ended the regular season at the Aggie Invitational in Bryan, Texas, on April 16-17. The Lobos finished second two strokes behind number one ranked Oklahoma State. Levin returned to form winning medalist honors with Anthony Kim of Oklahoma. Beljan and Muthiya also played well again with a tie for third and a tie for 18th, respectively. The Lobos then entered postseason play with a Mountain West Conference title and a spot in the NCAA Championships on their mind. New Mexico achieved its first part of their goal winning their third consecutive Mountain West Conference championship. The Lobos edged UNLV by three strokes at the Crosswater Course in Sunriver, Oregon. Levin led the way for UNM finishing in second one stroke behind Nick Becker of BYU. Choi and Beljan also finished in the top-10 with a tie for fifth and a tie for seventh, respectively. Following the tournament Levin and Beljan were named All-Mountain West Conference and head coach Glen Millican was named the Mountain West Conference Coach-of-the-Year. The Lobos returned to a familiar place in Stanford, California where they won the Nelson Invitational for the NCAA West Regional Championship on May 19-21. UNM had to overcome an injury to Beljan but used their knowledge of the course to finish second three strokes behind UNLV and accomplish their second goal of the postseason. The second place finish guaranteed New Mexico a spot in the NCAA Championships field for the fourth consecutive year and the 14th time in the last 16 years. Levin and Muthiya paced the Lobos finishing in a tie for sixth. Griego also played well with a tie for 15th. Things looked promising for the Lobos entering the 2005 NCAA Championships at the Caves Valley Golf Course in Owings Mills, Maryland, on June 1-4. New Mexico opened the tournament in a tie for 15th place. On the second day UNM struggled mightily and fell all the way to 25th and the chances of making the cut after three rounds looked slim. In the third round the Lobos made a huge move shooting the low round of the day at 291 and finished tied for 12th making the cut for the first time since 1997. New Mexico though was not done moving up the leaderboard as they shot the third best round of the day in the fourth round to finish fifth. The fifth place finish was the best by a Lobo team since 1979. Individually, at the NCAA Championships, UNM placed three players in the top-30. Levin finished in a tie for 21st, while both Muthiya and Choi finished tied for 27th. The success didn’t stop there though for the Lobos as they received a number of individual awards. Following the championship, the Golf Coaches Association of America named Glen Millican the top coach of the Southwest Region while Levin was named a PING first-team All-American. In addition, Beljan, Griego, Muthiya, Levin and Choi were all named to the Southwest Region’s PING All-Region team. Levin also was named a finalists for the Ben Hogan Award, played as member of 2004 United States World Amateur team and finished second, played as a member of the 2005 United States Palmer Cup team, finished sixth at the 2004 Western Refining College All-American Golf Classic for the top-30 college golfers in the country and finished the year ranked second in the country in the Golfweek/Sagarin Index. Three other Lobos also finished ranked in the top-100 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Index with Beljan at 54th, Muthiya at 72nd and Choi at 95th.