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New Mexico, Washington Share NCAA West Regional Title
The Lobos and Huskies finished the 54-hole tournament at 8-over 872.
May 20, 2002
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The University of New Mexico men's golf team fired a tournament-low 284 on its home course to tie Washington for the team crown at the NCAA West Regional Saturday afternoon. The Lobos and Huskies finished the 54-hole tournament at 8-over 872. The tournament was held at the Championship Course at UNM. The Lobos and Huskies will be joined by UNLV, Minnesota, Pepperdine, Arizona, Texas, Pacific, Fresno State and Texas Tech as the 10 teams advancing to the NCAA Championships May 29 - June 1 in Columbus, Ohio. The top-10 teams plus the top-two individuals not on those teams advance to the championships at the Ohio State Scarlet Course. Mark Warman (San Diego State) and John Merrick (UCLA) qualified as individuals. Arizona's Ricky Barnes and Minnesota's Justin Smith tied for the individual honors at 6-under 210. Smith shot a 5-under 67 to catch Barnes, who carried a four-stroke lead into the final round. Nick Watney from Fresno State shot a final-round 69 to finish alone in third at 2-under 214. The 10th and final team to qualify was Texas Tech in a one-hole playoff with San Diego State. The Red Raiders' Kyle Willmann forced the playoff when he rammed home a dramatic 25-foot birdie on the 18th hole. Willman's putt hit the back of the hole, bounced up, hit the front lip then dropped in the cup. New Mexico captured its second regional title since the NCAA began using the format in 1989. The Lobos tied Arizona State for team honors in 1998 on the Sun Devils' home course in Tempe. UNM will be making its 26th appearance in the NCAA Championships, all since 1967. The Lobos began the day in a four-way tie for sixth place, six shots behind second-round leader UNLV. The Rebels shot a 4-over 292 to finish third at 874. Minnesota placed fourth at 875, followed by Pepperdine at 877.
Washington, third after the first two rounds, shot even-par 288. The Huskies were paced by Brock Mackenzie, who carded a 5-under 67 to finish at 215, and in a four-way tie for fourth place.
New Mexico had four players shoot par or better in the final round led by senior Scott Hailes' 2-under 70. Hailes tied for fourth place at 1-under 215. Teammate Michael Letzig was at even-par 216, tying for 16th. True freshman Madalitso Muthiya fired a 1-under 71 today to complete the tournament at 3-over 219. "All five guys played solid today," said UNM rookie head coach Glen Millican. "That's what we needed and that's exactly what we did. Today, we just gave away a few less shots than we did the first two rounds." The Lobos were in ninth place after the first round. Southern California, ranked seventh nationally in the latest Golf Week poll and the No. 1 seed entering the West Regional, failed to qualify for the NCAA Championships. The Trojans shot a final-round 298 to finish in 18th place. |
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