Sept. 27, 2010
2010 Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational
Day 1 Results
Team | Team with Players
Individual | Round 3 Tee Times
ERIE, Colo. — Thanks in large part to the efforts of its three seniors, the University of New Mexico men’s golf team rode the momentum of a 12-under-par second round to a four-stroke lead after the first two rounds at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational at the Colorado National Golf Club.
After opening the tournament with a 12-over 300, the Lobos closed the day with a scorching second round, shooting by far the lowest team score of the day. New Mexico’s 12-under 276 is a full eight strokes better than the next best team score, a 284 posted by Colorado State.
Paving the way to the Lobos’ second-round fireworks were their three seniors – Sam Chavez, Travis Ross and Tom Carlson. All three completed the first day in the top 11.
Chavez carded the lowest score for the Lobos at 2-under (76-66=142). He enters Tuesday’s final round in a four-way tie for second place, having rebounded from an opening-round 76 to shoot a field-low, 6-under 66.
Ross also answered an above-par first round (74, +2) with a 3-under 69 in round 2. Ross is tied for sixth place at 1-under.
Carlson, coming off a top-10 finish at last week’s Golfweek’s Conference Challenge, is in a three-way tie for 11th posting a 1-over 74-71=145.
Sophomore John Catlin, who also notched a top-10 finish at Golfweek’s Conference Challenge, is in a six-way tie for 23rd at 3-over, having carded a 77-70=147. Catlin, as was typical of New Mexico’s efforts on the day, also posted a dramatic improvement in the second round.
So too did fellow sophomore Ryan Gay, although his improvement wasn’t quite as pronounced. Gay is in a six-way tie for 37th after shooting a 5-over 76-73=149. Even freshman Sam Saunders, competing in his first collegiate event, shaved five strokes off his first-round score. Saunders improved from a 7-over 79 to a 2-over 74 to finish the day tied for 56th.
“Our guys just stayed patient after a rough first round,” coach New Mexico Glen Millican said. “It was a tough first round this morning, but we really played well this afternoon. It’s real nice to see our seniors leading the way. That’s what every coach wants to see from their seniors.”
The field at the Mark Simpson includes co-Mountain West Conference members Colorado State, Brigham Young, Air Force, Wyoming and Utah. New Mexico State is also a part of the 14-team field.
The Lobos start the final round of the Mark Simpson Tuesday, teeing off at 8 a.m. MT. Live Scoring is available at Golfstat.com.