University of New Mexico Men’s Golf
NCAA San Diego Regional
Final Standings: 1. Oklahoma 284-275-284=843, -21; 2. Arizona State 300-281-282=863, -1; 3. Georgia Tech 299-283-287=869, +5; 4 Georgia 307-278-285=870, +6; 5. Virginia 297-290-287=874, +10; 6. Wichita State 292-298-286=876, +12; 7. East Tennessee State 289-294-297=880, +16; 8. St. Mary’s (Calif.) 295-298-289=882, +18; 9. New Mexico 303-292-291=886, +22; T10. Idaho 301-287-301=889, +25; T10. San Diego 297-295-297=889, +25; 12. Mississippi 314-287-290=891, +27. 13. Eastern Kentucky 299-305-298=902, +38
Individual Leaders: 1. Jon Rahm, Arizona State -10 (73-64-69=206); T2. Michael Gellerman (71-68-69=208) and Max McGreevy (70-69-69=208), both Oklahoma, -8; 4. Denny McCarthy, Virginia 72-69-69=210, -6; 5. Lee McCoy, Georgia 73-70-69=212, -4.
Lobo Scorers: T18. Gavin Green 73-72-73=218, +2. T36 Gustavo Morantes 75-72-76=223, +7. T36. Sam Saunders 77-74-72=223, +7; T55. Andrej Bevins, 78-74-74=226, +10. T61. Sean Romero 82-76-72=230, +14.
In Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the 23rd-ranked University of New Mexico men’s golf team played well enough the last two days at the NCAA San Diego Regional to qualify for the NCAA Championship.
Unfortunately, the Lobos dug themselves too big a hole in the first round and couldn’t mount a rally into a qualifying spot.
UNM shot a final-round, 3-over 291 on Saturday and finished the tournament with a 22-over 886 to finish in ninth place at the regional. The top five advanced to the championship round in Bradenton, Fla., beginning May 29.
The Lobos finished 12 strokes out behind fifth-place and No. 25 Virginia for the final qualifying spot. As it did in the Mountain West Championship in early May, UNM started to make a run during the first half of the regional.
Thanks to a 2-under front 9 from senior Sean Romero, the Lobos were at 3 under for the round and 16 over for the tournament and climbed to as high as eighth place and just six strokes out of fifth place.
But the Farms Golf Course simply proved too tough for the Lobos to navigate without trouble and shot 6 over on the back nine to drop out of contention.
“We got ourselves in position at the turn,” Lobo coach Glen Millican said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t finish the way needed to. I’m proud of how hard our guys played yesterday and today, and were able to at least have a reasonable chance on our back nine today.”
No. 15 Oklahoma ran away with the event, carding a 21-under 843 for the tournament and defeating second-place an No. 6 Arizona State by 20 strokes. Sun Devil Jon Rahm won the individual title with a 10-under 206 after shooting a 3-under 69 on Saturday.
Senior Gavin Green finished his Lobos career with a 1-over 73 on Saturday and a 2-over 218 for the tournament to finish tied for 18th.
Fellow senior Sam Saunders, the La Cueva High School product,” came home with an even-par 72 on Saturday and a 7-over 223 to tie for 36th. Freshman Gustavo Morantes, who enrolled in UNM in January, also finished at 7-over 223 after his 4-over 76 during the final round, but he showed that the Lobos future continues to look bright.
Romero finished at even-par 72 on Saturday and 14-over 230 for the event. He moved up eight spots during the final round to finish tied 61st.
Sophomore Andrej Bevins, who will now assume the leadership mantle with Morantes for next season, closed with a 2-over 74 and 10-over 226 for a tie for 55th.
“It’s tough to have our season end here,” Millican said, but this is still a season for our team to be very proud of – especially for our seniors.”
The Lobos finished with two tournament wins – capturing the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate for the third year in a row in September, and the 3M Augusta Invitational in Augusta, Ga., in April, beating a field that included No. 1 Illinois and No. 3 Texas.
Green won three tournament to become the all-time leader in career wins in Lobo history with eight. He won the Tucker for a third consecutive time, became the first player to win the Western Refining College All-America golf tournament twice in 25 years. He also tied for the championship at the Hootie’s at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate in Awendaw, S.C. in April.
Green was Mountain West Co-Golfer of the Month in October and November and earned a Golfer of the Week nod in April. Saunders also earned MW Player of the Week honors in April at the 3M Invitational. He also was a Ben Hogan Award semifinalist that goes annually to the nation’s top golfer.
Green, Saunders and Romero all earned All-Mountain West honors.