March 6, 2009
New Mexico freshman James Erkenbeck has been selected the Mountain West Conference Men’s Golfer of the Month for February.
Erkenbeck shot a 7-under 65 in the final round to claim the individual title at the John Burns Intercollegiate played in Wahiawa, Hawaii, Feb. 18-20. Erkenbeck finished the tournament at 11-under 205 on the par-72, 6,917-yard Leilehua Golf Course. He started the final round in eighth place, erasing a five-shot deficit to edge second-round leader Tarquiin Macmanus from Arizona by one shot. The freshman became the Lobos’ first medalist since Charlie Beljan won the 2007 ASU Thunderbird Intercollegiate. His score of 65 on the final round ties for the ninth-best round in UNM history.
Erkenbeck also finished 19th at the PING Arizona Intercollegiate. He finished 4-over 217 (76-72-69) on the 6,793-yard Arizona National Golf Course. The San Diego, Calif., native posted a 70.33 stroke average in six rounds during the month of February.
Erkenbeck currently ranks 10th in the MWC for stroke average (72.61) and is ranked No. 154 nationally by Golfweek.