May 23—For much of the season, the Lobos golf team has prided itself on rising to the occasion with its backs against the wall.
That quality will be tested this weekend.
New Mexico men’s golf finished Friday’s first round of the NCAA Championship at 9-over-par, only six spots removed from last place in the 30-team tournament hosted by Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
Playing in their third-straight NCAA Championship, the Lobos (tied for 23rd overall) will have to play their way into the top 15 on Saturday and Sunday to make the tournament’s first cut. If they do so, UNM can qualify for match play for the first time since 2013 by finishing Monday’s fourth and final round of stroke play in the top eight.
But Omni La Costa’s demanding North Course — a 7,538-yard, par-72 “ball-buster,” per longtime Illinois head coach Mike Small — took the first round from the Lobos. UNM made the sixth-most bogeys (20) and eighth-most double bogeys (5) among the field; the latter was perhaps the most damaging to its placement even while recording a solid number of pars (54) and birdies (11).
Only seven teams finished Friday in the red. Sixth-ranked Oklahoma (-8) leads the field and holds a five-stroke lead over second place Florida State (-5).
Making his NCAA Championship debut, junior Mesa Falleur led the Lobos with a 2-under-par 70.
The Kansas City transfer made a team-high four birdies to two bogeys, and is tied for 16th place on the individual leaderboard.
“That’s why I transferred,” Falleur said Monday. “I wanted to be in the final tournament of the year.”
Freshman Clark Sonnenberg was the only other Lobo to shoot under-par, carding a 1-under 71 to tie for 25th place among individuals. After playing his way into UNM’s rotation this year, the Albuquerque Academy graduate has now posted red scores in five of his last seven postseason rounds.
“I’m definitely a much different golfer than when I showed up here in the fall,” Sonnenberg said Monday. “I’ve learned a lot (and) gotten a lot better — I knew it was possible. I just had to put in some good work, and I think I did over the year.”
Junior Alvaro Portillo — the Lobos’ alternate — turned in a 2-over 74, while junior Wyatt Provence and senior Carson Herron struggled to a 10-over 82 and 12-over 84, respectively.
UNM returns to action Saturday and Sunday for the remaining 36 holes of no-cut stroke play.
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