April 15, 2011
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The University of New Mexico men’s golf team looks to close its regular-season schedule on a high note this weekend at the Aggie Invitational. The invite is hosted by Texas A&M and, aside from the Aggies, includes No. 1-ranked Oklahoma State, No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 8 Texas, No. 16 Texas Tech, No. 24 Oklahoma, Baylor, Kent State, SMU, Tulsa and UTSA in its field.
The Aggie Invitational is held at A&M’s Traditions Golf Club Course, located in Bryan, Texas. Action begins at 7 a.m. MT on both days with a shotgun start Saturday (36 holes) and a split-tee start on Sunday (18 holes). The Lobos tee off at 7:45 with UTSA and Baylor.
Unlike most collegiate golf tournaments that have five golfers playing with the varsity squad while counting four scores, the Aggie Invitational allows for six members on each varsity squad, while counting five scores.
Traditions will be set up to play at par-72, 7,146 yards. The normal hole No. 8 will serve as the first hole, hole No. 9 as the second hole, hole No. 1 as the third hole, and so on. The back nine will remain as usual.
LOBO LINEUP
Head Coach Glen Millican is traveling the following players: seniors Travis Ross, Tom Carlson and Sam Chavez, junior Ryan Barry, Sophomores John Catlin and Ryan Gay. Ross will play in the Lobos’ No. 1 spot, with Carlson at No. 2, Chavez No. 3, Catlin No. 4, Gay No. 5 and Barry No. 6.
LAST YEAR AT THE AGGIE INVITATIONAL
New Mexico shot a 16-over-par 364-369-363=1096 to finish eighth at the 2010 Aggie Invitational. The Lobos got off to a rough start in Sunday’s final round, finding themselves at 11-over for the round at the turn. New Mexico responded by shooting 8-under on the back nine, coming within one stroke of catching Baylor for seventh place.
The Lobos finished a mere four strokes out of fifth place.
“The guys showed great composure by hanging in there and turning things around,” Millican said. “Overall, our play was solid all three rounds. The back nine today was a great way to finish off an event.”
Individually, James Erkenbeck shot a 2-under 70 in the final round to finish tied for 15th with a 2-under 72-72-70=214. John Catlin finished tied for 29th with a 2-over 71-74-73=218, while teammate Tom Carlson finished one stroke back, carding a 3-over 71-74-74=219. Carlson tied for 34th.
Travis Ross finished tied for 43rd with a 6-over 74-75-73=222, Nick Geyer finished in tied for 50th with a 7-over 76-74-73=223 and Ryan Gay closed tied for 72nd with a 20-over 78-77-81=236.
Brandon Putnam, playing as an individual for the Lobos, finished in 60th with an 11-over 79-70-78=227.
Host Texas A&M captured the team title, finishing with a 38-under 346-351-345=1042, followed by Oklahoma State (-17), Texas Tech (-13), San Diego State (+7), TCU (+14) and Baylor (+15).
The Aggies also captured the top four individual spots, with Jordan Russell taking medalist honors with a 10-under 70-69-67=206.
THE FIELD (11 teams)
No. 1 Oklahoma State, No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 8 Texas, No. 16 Texas Tech, No. 24 Oklahoma, Baylor, Kent State, New Mexico, SMU, Tulsa, UTSA.
FORMAT
team stroke play, 54 holes.
Rounds 1 & 2: Saturday, 6:30 a.m. MT (continuous play)
Round 3: Sunday, 6:30 a.m.
LIVE SCORING golfstat.com