In Lubbock, Texas, the tie against No. 2 Texas was impressive enough. But the biggest positive for the 23rd-ranked University of New Mexico men’s golf team on Saturday was the play of senior Victor Perez.
The Lobos took on the second-ranked Longhorns in the morning and No. 30 TCU in match-play competitions as the JP Energy Red Raider Classic.
UNM tied both of its matches with the Texas teams 2-2-2. On a total-holes-won technicality, Texas and TCU were credited with the wins, but ties won’t exist if the Lobos get to play any more match-play events this season – the teams with the eight best team scores in stroke play in the NCAA Tournament will advance to match play to decide the national champion.
“It was a great experience for us,” coach Glen Millican said. “We played well in both matches, and our guys fought hard in both rounds.”
The most impressive individual on Saturday in Cherry and Silver was Perez, the three-time All-Mountain player his first three seasons. The senior from Semeac, France , has struggled for most of the 2014-15 season but won both his matches 4 and 3 – against Texas’ Kramer Hickok and TCU’s Daniel Gurtner Morales and was 3-under par for the 30 holes he played.
He was the only Lobo to win both of his matches at the Rawls Course, which is the site of one of the six NCAA Regionals that will take place in mid-May. The Lobos will have to place in the top five in one of the regionals to advance to the NCAA Championships.
Senior Gavin Green defeated Texas’ Scottie Scheffler 3 and 2 and finished all square with TCU’s Chelso Barrett.
Senior Sam Saunders went 1-1, losing to Texas’ Beau Hossler 6 and 5 but rebounding to beat TCU’s Andrew Pressley 1 up.
Sophomore Andrej Bevins rallied to win the last hole against Texas’ Doug Ghim to finish all square, and he also finished all square with TCU’s Clayton Crawford.
Senior Sean Romero finished all square with Texas’ Brax McCarthy but lost to TCU Paul Barjon 4 and 3.
Freshman Gustavo Morantes, getting his first taste of collegiate match play, lost to Texas’ Gavin Hall 6 and 5 and lost to TCU’s Giulio Catagnara 3 and 2.
UNM now will prepare for the Mountain West Tournament from May 1-3 in Tucson. The Lobos are two-time defending champions.