National Invitational Tournament
Team Top 5: 1. California (292-279=571, -5). 2 New Mexico (296-277=573, -3). 3. Santa Clara (284-292=576, E). 4. UTEP 287-290=577, +1). -1. T5. San Diego State (298-281, +3). T5. New Mexico State 283-296=579, +3.
Individual Top 5: 1. Scott Fernandez, Iowa State (70-66=136, -8). 2. Jere Pelletier, UTEP (69-69=138, -6). 3. Xander Schauffele, San Diego State (70-69, -5). 4. Gavin Green, New Mexico (72-68=140, -4). T5 Luis Medina, New Mexico State (68-73=141, -3). T5. George Cunningham, Arizona 71-70=141, -3).
Other Lobo Scorers
T7. Andrej Bevins, 74-68=142, -2
T19. Sam Saunders 77-67=144, E
T19 Sean Romero 73-72=145, +1*
T37. Gustavo Morantes 74-74: 148, +4
T64. Victor Perez 76-77=153, +9
* — Denotes competing as an individual.
Live Scoring Available at birdiefire.com.
In Tucson, Ariz., Yogi Berra was not a golfer, but his words applied Sunday to the 24th-ranked University of New Mexico men’s golf team:
It was déjà vu all over again for UNM.
After a shaky first round at the National Invitational Tournament, the Lobos came out firing for round two, led by seniors Sam Saunders and Gavin Green, and sophomore Andrej Bevins, shooting a day-low 11-under to climb to second place in the overall standings.
The Lobos (296-277=573) sit at 3-under after 36 holes of the 15-team NIT, played on the Omni Tucson National Catalina Course. They trail leader and 21st-ranked California (292-279=571, -5) by two strokes. Santa Clara is third at even-par, followed by UTEP (+1) and Mountain West rival San Diego State and in-state rival New Mexico State at 3 over par.
Nine teams are within 15 strokes of the lead.
The scenario Sunday duplicated UNM’s second round last week at the John Burns Intercollegiate, when it struggled on the first day and shot the low round of the second day to climb into second place and challenge the Bears.
“Obviously, the guys played a lot better golf today,” Lobo coach Glen Millican said. “They played themselves into position and another chance for a good finish tomorrow, just like they did last week.”
Saunders, whose 2014-15 season has been marred by nagging injuries, tied for the low individual round Sunday with a 5-under 67 to lead the Lobo surge. He is tied for 19th at even-par 144 (77-67) after improving 10 stroke from his first round.
Green, the No. 10 collegiate golfer according to the latest Golfweek.com/Sagarin poll, charged into contention for the individual title with a 4-under 68 in the second round for a two-day total of 4-under 140 (72-68). He is fourth and trails leader Scott Fernandez of Iowa State, who’s 70-66-136 put him at 8-under and gave him a two-stroke lead over UTEP’s Jere Pelletier. San Diego State’s Xander Schauffele is three back.
Bevins also put himself in contention for the title. His 4-under 68 put him at 2-under for the 83-player event and tied for seventh place.
“Those were great rounds by Gavin, Sam and Andrej,” Millican said. “If they can play like that tomorrow, I like our chances.”
True freshman Gustavo Morantes has matching 2-over 74s for a 4-over 148 after two rounds and is tied for 37th.
Only senior Victor Perez still fought to get his rhythm in the second round, shooting a 5-over 77 and finishing tied for 64th place at 9-over 153.
“That’s a solid round from Gustavo,” Millican said, “and even though Victor has struggled, we know he’s capable of posting a good round and we’ll need him to finish well tomorrow.”
Competing as an individual, senior Sean Romero is putting in another solid tournament He is tied with Saunders for 19th at even-par.
“It’s been nice to see Sean’s play so far; even is a good score so far and that’s just going to help us down the road,” Millican said
The teams will play the final round Monday with the same formats. The start time off hole Nos. 1 and10 is 8:10 a.m.; the Lobos will tee off with the last group, so they will start later in the day.