Sept. 8, 2008
Lobos Travel to Topy Cup to Start the Season
For the University of New Mexico men’s golf team the summer of 2008 was an unusually long one. New Mexico is used to playing golf well into late May, but for the first time in years, the Lobos failed to make the postseason. That fact has served as major motivation for the student-athletes over the last four months, who have been hard at work and honing their skills for the 2008-09 campaign. This season, UNM will field a talented squad that includes eight letterwinners, three returning redshirts and four highly-touted newcomers.
Led by eighth-year head coach Glen Millican, the Lobo men’s golf team has strung together a successful run during his tenure. New Mexico has won four Mountain West Conference titles and 13 tournaments overall since Millican took over the program in 2002. Millican will have one of his most experienced squads, led by a strong group of five seniors. UNM will also have the luxury of teeing off with seven golfers who played in at least three varsity tournaments last season.
“We had a lot of guys get a lot of experience last year,” stated Millican, whose 13 wins are the second most by a Lobo coach in school history. “There is going to be a lot of competition for those top-five spots. I think we have a strong core of returners who know what it takes to be successful at this level. Hopefully, they can mesh with the young guys and give us a lineup that can win some tournaments.”
Leading the way will be the Lobos’ quintet of seniors, Guillermo Chavez, Jacob Lestishen, Parker Pemberton, Jon Sauer and Steve Saunders. Chavez started strong last season, playing in each of the first three tournaments and posting a 75.13 average in eight rounds. Lestishen had a surprising tie for second place at the 2007 William H. Tucker, shooting a 4-under 212 (70-70-72). He played in eight tournaments overall, posting a 75.30 average. Pemberton played in four events, posting a 74.25 average in 12 rounds. He has only gotten better over the summer, qualifying and competing in the stroke play portion of the U.S. Amateur in Pinehurst, N.C., in August.
“I think you will see any one of our seniors in the lineup throughout the season,” stated Millican. “Guillermo showed that he can play in the top-5 last year and Jacob had a great showing at the Tucker. Pemberton had a great summer and if he keeps improving, his experience over the last three semesters will make him one of our top players.”
Steve Saunders and Jon Sauer are the two marquee members of the Lobo senior class. Saunders has played in almost every tournament over the last three years. He has one win, five top-10s and six top-20 finishes in his career. His averaged slipped a little last season to a career-high 74.92. However, he has been hard at work on his entire game in the offseason. Sauer was the Lobos’ most consistent player in 2008. He finished with a 74.00 averaged in 33 rounds.
“Hopefully Sauer and Saunders are in our lineup each week,” added Millican. “With the competition we will have, no one is an automatic, so if they are in there each time that means they are playing well. Regardless, we are going to have to have their senior leadership for us to be successful.”
Senior Parker Pemberton competed at the U.S. Amateur in August. |
Brandon Putnam is the only one of the trio of juniors who saw action with the Lobos last season. Fellow junior Nick Geyer redshirted while Travis Ross just transferred to UNM following two seasons at St. Cloud State in St. Cloud, Minn. Putnam had an up and down sophomore campaign, posting three top-20s and five rounds in red numbers. However, he finished the year with a 76.76 average. He spent the offseason working on his consistency and trying to keep the big numbers off his card. Geyer brings two years of experience, having played in 20 events in his career. He has a 74.83 career average and has played in two NCAA Regionals. Ross was a very successful Division II player, winning the North Central Conference title last season. He also qualified and competed in the stroke play portion of the 2008 U.S. Public Links.
“Our junior class might be the most talented group overall,” said Millican. “Putnam has the potential to be our best player. He showed flashes last season and I think he is ready for a breakout year. Geyer returning gives us another upperclassman with a lot of experience. He will be in the fight for one of the spots in the lineup. It will be very interesting to see how Ross will adapt to this level. He came here for the increase in competition and he is going to get it immediately.”
Tom Carlson and Alez Zannes are the Lobos’ pair of solid sophomores. Zannes is in his third year in the program and played in one event last season. Carlson is also in his third season as a Lobo and had a great 2007-08 campaign. He posted the lowest average on the team with a 73.83 average in six events last year. His 67 at the John Burns was one of the lowest rounds on the year.
“Carlson was a pleasant surprise for us last year,” said Millican. “He was thrown in the mix and responded with some very consistent play. Zannes played well last year, he just had a hard time cracking the lineup. He has the ability to make some trips if he can continue to improve.”
The freshman class consists of James Erkenbeck, James Gehrke, Shane McDonald, Ryan Smith and Chandler Smith-Stetson. Both Gehrke and McDonald are returning after redshirting last season. Erkenbeck joins the Lobos from Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, Calif. Smith is coming off a high school career in Ardmore, Okla., where he guided Ardmore HS to three state titles. He was also the runner-up for the individual trophy in 2006 and 2008. Smith-Stetson is a local product from Albuquerque Academy. He won the 2008 New Mexico 4A state title.
“We have a very talented freshman class,” stated Millican. “However, it is going to be tough for them to break into the lineup. They are going up against a strong group of collegiate golfers, but they have the talent to step in if the upperclassmen slip.”
The Lobos’ long summer is sure to pay off this season. They have all the talent and have put in the work in the off season to be successful. Hopefully their reward will be a shorter summer vacation in 2009.