MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The University of New Mexico Men’s Golf team opened their season at the Gopher Invitational on Sunday. The Lobos improved six strokes from the first to the second round among the counted scores as they finished the day in 15th place with a team score of 610 strokes.
After Two Rounds (Counted Scores)
New Mexico (+42)
Andrej Bevins (+12)
Gustavo Morantes (+12)
Samuel Kim (+9)
Joseph Abella (+9)
Leading the charge from the first round to the second were Joseph Abella and Samuel Kim. Abella improved eleven strokes while Kim cut seven strokes from his first round. Kim did his damage on the back nine in the second round with three birdies in the first four holes after the turn. Abella’s one stroke under par performance in the second round made him one of just a handful of players to shoot under par in the second round of the day. The pair were New Mexico’s only top 50 finishers for the first two rounds.
The Lobos took advantage of the course’s par 3’s. UNM’s 3.20 stroke average as a team on the shortest holes was tied for fourth best among all teams.
Round Two
Andrej Bevins (+9)
Gustavo Morantes (+9)
Samuel Kim (+1)
Joseph Abella (-1)
Sean Carlon (+9)
The Lobos finished the first round tied for 15th after shooting 24-over for the day. UNM was paced by Andrej Bevins and Gustavo Morantes who both shot three over. New Mexico’s quintet of players for the day saw some fresh faces as a senior, a junior and a sophomore played alongside a pair of freshmen.
Morantes, a sophomore from Venezuela, led the team with four birdies in his round. Three of his birdies came on par 4’s.
New Mexico got its first birdie of the day from freshman Samuel Kim on his second hole as a collegiate golfer. Sophomore Gustavo Morantes followed his teammate’s birdie with back-to-back birdies of his own on the fourth and fifth holes.
UNM had another pair of Lobos score below par on at least one hole on Sunday. Freshman Sean Carlon birdied the ninth hole as Andrej Bevins birded the tenth. Bevins, the California native, paced the Lobos for the team’s most consistent round after recording a par on eight of his first nine holes.
Round One
Andrej Bevins (+3)
Gustavo Morantes (+3)
Samuel Kim (+8)
Joseph Abella (+10)
Sean Carlon (+11)