University of New Mexico Men’s Golf
NCAA San Diego Regional
Team Standings: 1. Oklahoma 284-275=559, -17; 2. Arizona State 300-281=581, +5; 3. Georgia Tech 299-283=582, +6; 4. East Tennessee State 289-294=583, +7; 5 Georgia 307-278=585, +9; 6. Virginia 297-290=587, +11; 7. Idaho 301-287=588, +12; 8. Wichita State 292-298=590, +14; 9. San Diego 297-295=592, +16; 10. St. Mary’s (Calif.) 295-298=593, +17. 11. New Mexico 303-292=595, +19. 12. Mississippi 314-287=601, +27. 13. Eastern Kentucky 299-305=604, +28
Individual Leaders: 1. Jon Rahm, Arizona State -7 (73-64=137); T2. Michael Gellerman (71-68=139) and Max McGreevy (70-69=139), both Oklahoma, -5; 4. Gudmundur Kristjansson, East Tennessee State 69-71=140, -4; 5. Denny McCarthy, Virginia 72-69=141, -3.
Lobo Scorers: T17. Gavin Green 73-72=145, +1. T23 Gustavo Morantes 75-72=147, +3. T48. Sam Saunders 77-74=151, +7; T56. Andrej Bevins, 78-74=152, +8. 69. Sean Romero 82-76=158, +14.
Live Scoring: Golfstat.com
In Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the University of New Mexico men’s golf team kept trying to make runs during the second round of the NCAA San Diego Regional. The last one stuck, but the Lobos still have a lot of work to do.
The Lobos struggled again on the day by played the final three holes at 7 under par for a 4-over 292 on Friday that left them at 19-over 595 and in 11th place in the 13-team field. They are 10 strokes behind fifth-place and No. 29 Georgia; the top five teams in the region advance to the NCAA Championships in Bremerton, Fla., beginning May 29.
“Today was a better day,” coach Glen Millican said. “We did a good job finishing to keep us in position to have a chance tomorrow. It will take one of our best days of the year for us to get into contention, but we do have something to play for.”
Oklahoma, the No. 15 team in the country, is running away with the event. The Sooners shot a 13-under 275 during the second round and are at 17-under 559 for the tournament, clinging to a 22-stroke lead over second-place and No. 6 Arizona State.
The Sun Devils received a big lift from Jon Rahm’s 8-under 64 in the second round. He leads the individual standings at 7-under 137. Oklahoma’s Max McGreevy and Michael Gellerman are second at 5-under 139.
Senior Gavin Green is pacing the Lobos’ efforts with a 1-over 145 for a 17th-place tie, but his second round typified UNM’s day. He was 1 under through six holes (UNM against started on Hole No. 10) but triple-bogeyed No. 7. He came back and birdied the next two holes to get back to even par.
He then triple-bogeyed his 15th hole before birdieing 16, 17 and 18 to get back to even-par for the second round.
Gustavo Morantes is tied for 25th after his second-round, even-par 72 left him at 3 over for the tournament. He birdied his 16th and 17 holes.
Senior Sam Saunders and sophomore Andrej Bevins both finished with 2-over 74s on Friday. Saunders, who birdied two of his last five holes, is tied for 49th at 7-over 151. Bevins, who birdied his 18th hole, is tied for 56th at 8-over 152.
Senior Sean Romero, who was the team’s steadiest golfer at even-par through the first 13 holes, ran into trouble at No. 14 with a double bogey that sent him to a 4-over 76. He alone in 69th place at 14-over 158.
The final 18 holes take place Saturday at the Farms Golf Course. TheLobos will tee off with St. Mary’s and Mississippi starting at 9:55 MT.