PHOENIX –– The No. 20 New Mexico men’s golf team had a strong start to its final regular season event of the year during the opening two rounds of the ASU Thunderbird Collegiate. The Lobos shot 24-under during the tournament’s first 36 holes to sit in second place, while Johnnie Clark holds the individual lead.
The 20th-ranked Lobos shot 14-under in Friday morning’s first round before shooting 10-under in the afternoon to finish the day at 24-under. No. 28 Long Beach State holds the lead at 27-under, three shots ahead of UNM. The tournament’s host, No. 9 Arizona State, is tied for third at 18-under with No. 48 San Diego. No. 44 Colorado rounds out the top five at 7-under, as the nine-team field features seven top-50 squads.
Johnnie Clark is the tournament’s individual leader at 9-under, after posting rounds of 67 and 66. He will take a one-shot lead into Saturday as he looks to become the third different Lobo to take medalist honors at a tournament this season. Thayer Plewe is also in the individual top 10, shooting 68 and 69 to finish the day T-10th at 5-under. Mesa Falleur is at 4-under after rounds of 70 and 68, while Wyatt Provence and Clark Sonnenberg are both at 3-under.
The ASU Thunderbird Collegiate concludes Saturday at Papago Golf Course in Phoenix.