Lobos Open Play at NCAA Men’s Golf Championship
CARLSBAD, Calif. –– The New Mexico men’s golf team began play Friday at the 2024 NCAA Championship with the opening round at the North Course of the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa. The Lobos shot 11-over during the first round, which was seventh among the 15 teams playing the morning wave, as they ended the day T-17th place.
Virginia and Arizona hold the first round lead at 2-over, followed by North Carolina in third at 3-over. Georgia Tech is fourth at 4-over, while Illinois and Auburn are tied for fifth at 5-over. Ohio State shot the low round of the morning at 6-over to hold seventh place.
Matthew Watkins and Bastien Amat tied for the low round for the Lobos on Friday, each shooting a 1-over 73. Their 73s tied for the eighth best round of the morning, as only seven players shot par or better among the first 15 teams. Watkins’ round included six birdies, which was tied for most of any player in the morning wave. Amat was 3-over through six holes, but played the final 12 bogey-free with two birdies to get back to 1-over.
Albert Boneta shot a 2-over 74, while Connor Adams posted a 7-over 79. Carson Herron rounded out the UNM lineup with an 86.
“The course played difficult this morning,” said head coach Jake Harrington. “That mist that turned to rain midway through the round was unfortunate. We played steady for the most part as the top three guys were steady, we just lacked that fourth man today. We are still in good position as we head into tomorrow. Bastien and Matthew were good and both could have been one or two under par if a few putts drop. It wasn’t easy, so for them to get around in 1-over par gives them good momentum going into tomorrow.”
The NCAA Championship continues Saturday with the second round at La Costa. The Lobos, along with the other 14 teams that played in the morning on Friday, will play in the afternoon. The third round will be Sunday before the top 15 teams make the cut to play Monday’s final round of stroke play. The top eight teams after the fourth round will play match play Tuesday and Wednesday for the national championship.