Oct. 2, 2008
Watch Coach Millican Discuss the Upcoming Windon
Complete Release in PDF Format 
OPENING DRIVE: The University of New Mexico men’s golf team travels to the 12th annual Windon Memorial Classic Oct. 5-6 in Glenview, Ill. The Lobos are making their third consecutive trip to the Windon Memorial Classic and will be a part of a very talented 15-team field.
Northwestern University hosts the tournament that will be held for the third time at the par 72, 7,031-yard North Shore Country Club, site of past U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open Championships. The course also hosted the Windon in 1998 and 2003. Saturday, Oct. 4, will feature a practice round before the two-day, 54-hole event, begins Sunday.
The field is comprised of Northwestern, Illinois, No. 23 Kent State, Purdue, Coastal Carolina, Liberty, Missouri, Tulsa, Marquette, San Jose State, Michigan, Santa Clara, Colorado, Indiana and New Mexico.
The tournament has an illustrious history, with current PGA TOUR members Joe Ogilvie, Tiger Woods, Luke Donald and Ben Curtis finishing as runners-up in the event. Donald and current PGA TOUR member Hunter Mahan are past champions, as are current Nationwide Tour member Tom Johnson and 2007 U.S. Amateur and U.S. Public Links champion Colt Knost.
The 2008 field features reigning BIG EAST team champion Marquette along with the 2007 Big Ten individual champion Jorge Campillo from Indiana, who also was named a top-10 Player to Watch in 2008 by Golf World. Northwestern won the 2007 Windon Memorial Classic title at Lake Shore Country Club, its third title in the history of the event.
THE FIELD: The Lobos challenge a group of 14 other teams that includes Coastal Carolina, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, No. 23 Kent State, Liberty, Marquette, Michigan, Missouri, Northwestern, Purdue, San Jose State, Santa Clara and Tulsa.
THE COURSE: The 2008 Windon Memorial Classic will be played at the par-72, 7,031-yard North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill.
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 Jon Sauer and Steve Saunders, juniors Nick Geyer and Brandon Putnam and freshman James Erkenbeck at the Windon.
Sauer has played in every event this year and his 71.50 stroke average leads the team. This is his second trip to the Windon. He had a great tournament last year, posting a career-low 201 to finish tied for fifth. His fifth place tie is his best showing as a Lobo.
Saunders has also played in both event for UNM this season. He has also played in the last two Windon’s. However, his best showing was a tie for 31st last year at 11-over (72-73-79=224). Saunders tied a career low for 18 at last week’s tucker when he shot 67 in the opening round. Saunders owns a 72.17 average through six rounds.
Geyer has played both events for UNM so far this season. He also played in the 2006 Windon, tying for 24th at 16-over (74-78-77=229). He has a solid 74.00 average in his first six rounds of the season.
Putnam is back in the scoring five after playing as an individual at the Tucker last week. He has a 75.33 average through six rounds, but had an solid showing at the Tucker. He shot a 2-under 214 (68-70-76) last week to tie for fifth. He is also making his second trip to the Windon, posting a 231 (74-79-78, +18) last season.
Erkenbeck is in the line up for the third straight week. He shot a 69 in the second round of the Tucker last week and has a 73.00 average after six collegiate rounds.
LOBOS RECEIVING VOTES: The Lobo men’s golf team received votes in the latest Golf World/NIKE Golf Division I Coaches’ Poll. UNM grabbed four votes and sits in 54th place in this week’s poll.
TUCKER RECAP: The Lobos finished in second place at the 2008 William H. Tucker Intercollegiate at the UNM Championship Course. UNM posted a final round 299 to shoot a 1-under (277-287-299=863). UNLV won the event with a 12-under 852 (277-292-283). The Lobos were led by senior Steve Saunders’ 1-under 71. Saunders finished tied for fifth at 2-under for the tournament (67-76-71=214). Junior Brandon Putnam, playing as an individual, also tied for fifth overall. He shot a final round 76 after holding the 36-hole lead (68-70-76=214). Senior Jon Sauer shot even par to finish tied for eighth (73-70-72=215) in the individual race. Junior Nick Geyer and freshman James Erkenbeck gave the Lobos five individuals in the top-20. Geyer tied for 14th at 3-over (70-72-77=219) while Erkenbeck tied for 16th (72-69-79=220). Senior Parker Pemberton was the other Lobo playing in the top-5. He finished the even tied for 49th at 11-over (68-77-82=227). The Lobos also had four other golfers competing as individuals. Sophomore Tom Carlson (76-73-79=228, +12/T37), freshman Chandler Smith-Stetson (80-71-81=232, +16/T67), freshman James Gehrke (78-78-77=233, +17/T71) and freshman Shane McDonald (80-77-85=242, +26/T86) all played in the Tucker.
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).