LOBOS ON TOP
The UNM men’s golf team resides in first place at its NCAA Regional
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The University of New Mexico men’s golf team is outplaying the field through two rounds of the NCAA Regional.
The Lobos shot a 6-under 282 on Tuesday, the day’s best round by four strokes, at the links-styled par72, 7,411-yard Kampen Golf Course. They enjoy a three-stroke lead over Mountain West Conference foe UNLV for first place in the 13-team field.
No. 44 New Mexico, which is 6-under 570 through two rounds, is leading a field that includes four teams ranked in the top 20.
The three teams tied for third at 3-over are No. 5 Florida, No. 20 Auburn and No. 38 Purdue. They were the big movers of the day, climbing in unison two spots after an opening-round 292.
The top five teams advance to the NCAA National Championships at Rich Harvest Farms, outside of Chicago, May 26-31.
Meanwhile, two Lobos are in serious contention for medalist honors. Andrej Bevins shot a 4-under 68 on Tuesday and is at 5-under 139 for the tourney. That’s tied with UNLV’s Shintaro Ban and one stroke behind Illinois State’s Trent Wallace, who is playing without his team.
Bevins, from Elk Grove, Calif., is a two-time All-MWC performer and the Lobos’ lone senior. He played the first five holes in 5-under, including an eagle on the 534-yard par-5 fifth hole. After slowing down through the middle of his round, he birdied three of the last six holes.
Meanwhile, Lobo Andre Garcia, a junior from Mansfield, Texas, is at 4-under 140 and tied for third place with UNLV’s John Oda.
Albuquerque sophomore Sean Carlon rebounded Tuesday with a 72 round and is tied for 23rd at 3-over 147. Venezuelan junior Gustavo Morantes shot 6-over 78 and is tied for 32nd. Ben Tolsma, a junior from Apple Valley, Calif., scored 1-over 73 and is tied for 66th.
New Mexico began the day one stroke behind UNLV, the Mountain West tournament champion. UNM finished fifth in that tournament and received an at-large NCAA bid.