Sept. 12, 2011
The University of New Mexico men’s golf team finished 36 holes of golf on Monday tied with Oklahoma for third place with an 8-under-par 286-282=568 in day one of the two-day Mark Simpson Colorado Invite at the Colorado National Golf Club in Erie, Colo.
The Lobos walked away from the 2010 Simpson with the team title in hand, besting runner-up Colorado State by a single stroke after carding a 5-under 300-276-283=859.New Mexico trails second-place San Diego by a single stroke heading into Tuesday’s final round. The Toreros sit in second with a 9-under 285-282=567. Colorado leads the field at 16-under with a 282-278=560.
Wyoming rounds out the top five with a 5-under 291-282=571.
Lobo junior John Catlin led the Lobos’ varsity squad, notching ten birdies on the day to card a 6-under 71-67=138. Catlin is tied for sixth with 18 holes to play. Lobos James Erkenbeck, Gavin Green and Victor Perez are tied with two others for 22nd with an even-par 144. Erkenbeck carded a 1-under 71 in his first round and a 1-over 73 to finish the day.
Newcomer Green carded a three-over 75 in his first round, then rallied in the second, improving by six strokes to card a three-under 69. Perez, also new to the Lobo squad, shot a 70-74=144. Freshman Sean Romero rounded out scoring for New Mexico, finishing tied for 37th with a 3-over 74-73=147.
Lobo sophomore Sam Saunders, who is competing in the invite as an individual, notched eight birdies to finish two-under. He’s tied for 11th with a score of 142. Saunders finished the first round in fifth place after carding a 4-under 68. His second-round 74 still has him only 10 strokes behind tournament leader Beau Schoolcraft (66-66=132, -12), who is also playing as an individual for the host Buffs.
The Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational concludes with 18 holes on Tuesday, Sept. 13, with the Lobos teeing off at 8 a.m. during a staggered shotgun start.