Sept. 24, 2010
Golfweek’s Conference Challenge
Final Results
Team Leaderboard | Individual Leaderboard
Team & Player Leaderboard
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
In massaging together the talented pieces of the puzzle called 2010-11 New Mexico Lobos men’s golf, Lobo coach Glen Millican has at least one pleasant challenge in front of him – lots of pieces to chose from.
“I like this team a lot,” said Millican, who in his 10th season at the University of New Mexico. “I think this is a special group of guys. Now, they have to go out and play good at the right time.”
Lobos over the years, including Millican (1994-98), have played well at the right time. It’s their legacy, their tradition, their psychological kick in the rear.
New Mexico golfers have been competing in the NCAA Tournament since 1948, have been in the Top Five four times, and have been to the NCAA Finals five times under Millican.
“We don’t really have to talk about what this golf program is all about or the expectations here,” said Millican. “We are here to compete for a national championship. To do that, we concentrate on hard work and improving our skills so we are prepared physically and mentally to play the best round of golf we can.
“Of course, this is a new team and I’m interested to see what happens this year.”
One thing Millican, and all coaches, want to see is for their upperclassmen to lead the way on and off the competitive field. Millican has three seniors poised to do exactly that in Tom Carlson, Samuel Chavez and Travis Ross. This is a solid group of seniors.
Carlson has 27 tournaments as a Lobo under his belt and should be looking at a breakout season. He has twice been named the most improved player on the UNM team.
“Tom has played in each of the spring semesters and this is his fifth year with us,” said Millican. “He has been a big part of our lineup and he has everything he needs to post some low scores for us. He also is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around. He is an example to our younger players as to what it takes to be a successful Lobo.”
Ross transferred in from St. Cloud State (Minn.), but is in his third year at UNM. In 2009-10, he had two top-five finishes and six top-25 finishes. He was second on the team in scoring average at 73.39 last year.
“Like Tom, Travis has everything he needs to play well,” said Millican. “He has great length and a good head on his shoulders. We expect a solid season from him.”
The third UNM senior is Chavez. He has played in six tournaments as a junior last year and is looking to improve on his 76.94 stroke average.
“Sam had some ups and downs last year,” said Millican. “He had to fight a little to get into the lineup. It’s nice to have that competition, but it’s always easier on a golfer to know he’s on the traveling squad and doesn’t have that pressure hanging over him.
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“I like this team a lot. I think this is a special group of guys. Now, they have to go out and play good at the right time.” Head Coach Glen Millican |
“You always look for your seniors to play consistently and, at times, great. But they’ll be looking at some challenges from our younger guys and from our transfers.”
The Lobos’ roster shows three seniors, seven juniors, three sophomores and one freshman. James Erkenbeck has decided to take a redshirt season in 2010-11 and Benjamin Bauch, a transfer from Pacific University, was not released by that school and has to sit out a year. That leaves nine Lobos fighting the three seniors – and each other – for spots on the five-man traveling squad.
Sophomore John Catlin obviously will be one of the top Lobos challenging to turn in a tourney card for Millican. He was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of The Year in 2009-10 and also earned a spot on the All-MWC team. He posted a sizzling 73.31 stroke average in 35 rounds of golf last season.
He enters UNM’s fall campaign with confidence coming off a win in the Northern California Amateur Match Play Championships.
Head coach Glen Millican lends sophomore John Catlin a hand reading a putt at last year’s NCA West Regional |
“He played in all but one tournament for us last year and was extremely solid for a freshman,” said Millican. “He is a great competitor and it will be hard to take his spot away.”
You have to give a little edge to the seniors and to Catlin in the battle to make UNM’s top five. In college golf, the team score is comprised of the best four cards out of five golfers.
Another Lobo on the cusp of locking down a traveling spot is Ryan Gay, another promising sophomore. Gay played in seven tournaments for UNM last season and is coming off a summer in which he defended his Maine Amateur State title. He had a 75.80 stroke average in 2009-10.
“Ryan was a little inconsistent last year, but he got great experience as a freshman and should have a solid year for us,” said Millican.
The Lobos also return juniors James Gehrke and Shane McDonald, who will be challenged for playing time by a talented freshman and four hungry transfers.The freshman, Sam Saunders, hopes to continue the family’s legacy at UNM. His brother, Steve, was a Lobo All-American in 2009. He had two uncles play for UNM – Jack Saunders (89) and Jeff Fulwiler (77).
Saunders has a chance to be a prize freshman recruit. The La Cueva High product holds that school’s record for lowest stroke average at 71.1.
Millican has a bevy of transfers and a whole lot of potential in that group of Ryan Berry (Trinity), Kyle Blackney (Midland College), Alex Estrada (U of Southwest) and Tom Richardson (Fresno City).
There is talent and college experience in this pack of transfers. Richardson won the JC California State Championship in 2009. Berry is a two-year letterwinner at Trinity. Blackney was All-Region and All-Conference at Midland. Estrada was a two-time letterman at the University of the Southwest and was a two-time APS Invitational winner when playing at Hope High in Albuquerque.
“Transfers sometimes struggle early on as they make adjustments,” said Millican. “But they get better and we’re counting on that. We need two or three of them to be competitive for us, at last by the spring.
“They are coming from good programs and they just have to get used to the way we do things. There also are some good golfers ahead of them that they have to outplay in order to move up.
“If those transfers can step up, all of a sudden we have a lot more help.”
Which makes it easier – and more difficult – on Millican. He’ll have more pieces to work into his puzzle called Lobo golf.