ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico’s Johnnie Clark became the first player in UNM golf history to win three straight individual titles with his victory Saturday at the William H. Tucker Invitational as play concluded at the UNM Championship. The Lobos finished second place as a team as they earned their third straight top-two to start the season.
Clark shared the individual title with San Diego State’s Brayden Forte, as both finished the event with a 13-under total. The two played two playoff holes to decide the winner, with each scoring a birdie on each hole. Due to travel commitments, there wasn’t time for a third playoff hole, so the pair were crowned as co-champions.
Clark’s win, combined with his victories at the Pan Pacific University Golf Super League in Japan to open the season and the Canadian Collegiate Invitational, makes him the first player in NCAA Division I men’s golf to win the first three stroke play events of a season since Matthew Wolff of Oklahoma State in 2018-19.
San Diego State won the Tucker team title with a 31-under total, six shots ahead of the Lobos at 25-under. BYU was third at 21-under, as UNLV (20-under) and Santa Clara (18-under) rounded out the top five.
Joining Clark in the top five was Thayer Plewe, who finished T-4th at 10-under. Wyatt Provence used a 5-under final round to finish at 3-under for a T-20th finish. Oliver Scriven finished at 1-over and Clark Sonnenberg rounded out the lineup at 11-over. Of the four Lobos playing as individuals, Dylan Park was the top finisher at 2-over.
“Our expectation was to win, but credit to San Diego State, who played incredibly well over the last 27 holes,” said head coach Jake Harrington. “I am proud of the way we played. This was as strong of a field as we have ever had at the Tucker, so to finish second is impressive. People don’t realize how hard it is to play at home, with the expectations and the pressure. We battled the whole week and everyone stepped up some point to help us finish second.”
The Lobos return to action next week with the NB3 Matchplay, held Tuesday-Wednesday at Twin Warriors Golf Club at Santa Ana Pueblo. The event features the both the Lobo men and women’s teams and will air live on the Golf Channel.
Johnnie Clark Earns Third Win of the Season at the Tucker
