Sept. 23, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
William H. Tucker: Lobos Battle 15 Teams Over 54 Holes in Two Days
Tucker’s Past is an Impressive List of PGA Stars
Watch the Tucker Press Conference
OPENING DRIVE: The University of New Mexico men’s golf team is set to host the 2008 William H. Tucker Invitational at the UNM Championship course this week. The Lobos welcome another strong field to the 54th edition of the Tucker. Teams will play 36 holes on Friday and 18 holes on Saturday.
New Mexico is going up against a strong group of 15 teams that includes Air Force, Arizona, BYU, Campbell, Colorado, Hawaii, No. 22 UNLV, Ohio State, Pacific, Pepperdine, UTEP, UT-San Antonio, Texas State, Utah and Wyoming.
Action begins on Friday, Sept. 26, with a 7:30 a.m. (M.D.T.) shotgun start. Teams will continue play in the afternoon with a second shotgun. The final 18 holes will start with tee times on Saturday at 7:30 a.m.
Fans will be able to follow all of the action live on GoLobos.com with live scoring provided by GolfStat.com.
The Lobos finished seventh last season (885, +21) at the Tucker and are looking for their 10th title overall in 2008. UNM has won three times under current head coach Glen Millican, including 2001, 2002 and their last title in 2006.
New Mexico is coming off a tie for fifth place at the prestigious Topy Cup in Tanagura, Japan, on Sept. 9-11 in their first tournament of the season. Senior Jon Sauer led UNM with a 2-under 214 to tie for 12th in the individual race.
THE FIELD: The Lobos welcome a strong group of 15 teams that include Air Force, Arizona, BYU, Campbell, Colorado, Hawaii, No. 22 UNLV, Ohio State, Pacific, Pepperdine, UTEP, UT-San Antonio, Texas State, Utah and Wyoming.
Ten of the teams listed above played in the Tucker last year, won by Pepperdine (864, E). BYU has won 11 Tuckers, but tied for 13th last year (905, +41). Colorado (871, +7), Ohio State (877, +13) and Utah (881, +17) all had good showings last season, placing 3rd, 4th and fifth, respectively. Arizona finished eighth (888, +24) last season and is looking for its fifth win at the Tucker. UTEP has one win on its resume and finished 11th (895, +31) last season. UNLV is back after a one-year absence from the field. The Rebels have taken home the Tucker Trophy twice.
THE COURSE: The William H. Tucker will be played at the 7,403-yard, par-72 UNM Championship Course.
RESULTS: Results can be found on the University of New Mexico web site at www.GoLobos.com following the conclusion of competition on each day. Live scoring will also be available via GolfStat.com on GoLobos.com.
LOBO PLAYERS: Lobo head coach Glen Millican will go with seniors Parker Pemberton, Jon Sauer and Steve Saunders, junior Nick Geyer and freshman James Erkenbeck at the Tucker. Junior Brandon Putnam, sophomore Tom Carlson and freshmen James Gehrke, Shane McDonald and Chandler Smith-Stetson will all play as individuals in the event.
Pemberton will be making his first appearance of the season and his first career showing at the William H. Tucker. He shot a 1-over 217 (70-75-72) at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational with the JV squad in August. Pemberton also competed stroke play portion of the 2008 U.S. Amateur in Pinehurst, N.C.
Sauer is playing in his second Tucker, having shot a 14-over 230 (75-77-78) to finish tied for 66th last season. He is coming off a 2-under 214 (71-71-72) at the Topy Cup.
Saunders has played in the last two Tuckers. He tied for 14th at 4-over (74-74-72=220) as a sophomore and tied for seventh at 1-under (70-71-74=215) last season. He shot a 3-over 219 (70-78-71) at the Topy Cup to finish tied for 19th.
Geyer is also making his third appearance at the Tucker. He tied for 31st at 4-over (75-72-73=220) as a freshman and tied for 54th at 11-over (71-79-77=227) as a sophomore. He redshirted last year and did not play in the 2007 Tucker. He shot a 9-over 225 (77-74-74) to tied for 38th at the Topy Cup.
Erkenbeck is in the line up for the second straight week. He fired a 2-over 218 (74-74-70) at the Topy Cup. His final round 70 is tied for the low round of the year by a Lobo.
2007 TUCKER: Pepperdine won last year’s Tucker with an even-par 864 (289-286-289). They edged San Diego State by four strokes while the Lobos finished seventh at 885. Pepperdine senior Jesse Barnsley won the individual title with a 12-under 204 (66-67-71=204). Lobo junior Jacob Lestishen tied for second at 4-under (70-70-72=212).
WILLIAM H. TUCKER HISTORY: The William H. Tucker Invitational turns 54 years old this season, and the invitational continues to rank among the nations most prestigious and selective in-season college golf events in the country. The Tucker is the second-oldest men’s college tournament in the country, behind only the New England Intercollegiate Golf Tournament.
The invitational is named in honor of a great English golf course architect and former University of New Mexico groundskeeper, William H. Tucker.
The invitational has been held at the Championship Course at the University of New Mexico since 1967, the event was previously held at the University of New Mexico North Course from 1955-1966.
Participants of the Tucker have been impressive. Bobby Clampett, Tommy Armour III, Tim Herron, Duffy Waldorf, Notah Begay, Tag Ridings and Kent Jones, all members of the PGA. Tiger Woods won the tournament in his first career college event in 1994. Phil Mickelson participated in 1992. Matt Kuchar who was the 1998 U.S. Amateur Champion and a current PGA player, participated in the Tucker. 2003 NCAA Champion Alejandro Canizares of Arizona State University and 2004 NCAA Champion, 2004 U.S. Pub Links Champion and U.S. Amateur Champion Ryan Moore have been the most recent participants in the Tucker.
The 1983 invitational 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 for the last 23 years). From 1954 through 1988, the tournament was a 72-hole format. The last 18 Tuckers (including the 2006 tournament) have been adapted to a 54-hole structure, conforming to current NCAA standards.
TUCKER RECORDS: 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 is also a Tucker record.
THE TOPY CUP RECAP: The Lobos shot a final round 287 (-1) to finish tied for fifth at the Topy Cup in Tanagura, Japan, on Sept. 11. The Lobos finished the tournament 12-over (292-297-287=876) at the 7,127-yard, par-72 Tanagura Country Club. Tohoku Fukushi University won the event with a 54-hole total of 835 (285-268-282, -29). Lamar was the top U.S. squad, placing second at 9-under (285-288-282=855).
JV GOLFERS AT THE FALCON INVITE: The Lobos finished in fourth place at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo. New Mexico shot an 869 (291-288-290) in the 54-hole event at the Eisenhower Course hosted by the Air Force Academy. Colorado State won the tournament with a three-round total of 837 (276-284-277). UNM sent a junior varsity contingent to the Falcon Invite with the rest of the team already in Japan preparing for the Topy Cup. UNM was led by senior Jacob Lestishen (72-72-75), sophomore Tom Carlson (76-73-70) and freshman Shane McDonald (77-70-72) who all tied for 24th with a 54-hole total of 219. Freshman James Gehrke shot a 222 (70-79-73) to tie for 39th while sophomore Alex Zannes tied for 52nd with a 226 (73-73-80). Senior Parker Pemberton actually had the best showing of the Lobos in the tournament. He played as an individual and tied for 12th with a 217 (70-75-72).