Subpar scoring and plenty of birdies ruled at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational March 11-12, where the UNM men's golf team could manage only an 8-under-par total - for a disappointing 14th-place finish.
With temperatures in the low 90s, little to no wind and a course in perfect condition, low scores were to be expected, Lobo head coach Glen Millican said. But UNM has had most of its success on tougher layouts where birdies are the exception rather than the norm.
"We don't have a bunch of guys who are used to shooting 66 and that's why we get burned on courses like ASU's," Millican said.
The Lobos posted rounds of 289-281-286-856 and were never in sight of host Arizona State University. The Sun Devils demolished the Karsten Course with a 40-under-par 824, shattering the tournament record.
Senior captain Michael Letzig did his part in Tempe - completing play at 7-under-par 209, he finished tied for 17th, once again best for the Lobos. David Schultz of Texas Christian University took individual honors with three rounds in the 60s and a 15-under total of 201, three better than David Oh from the University of Southern California.
Letzig struggled Friday morning to an opening 2-over-par 74, but came charging back in the afternoon session firing a 64, the tournament's low round. Letzig credited stellar ballstriking with his 3-wood in particular, for the great score.
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"My 3-wood was pretty much money," he said. "I think I made one 12-footer and one 15-footer in the round. Otherwise, I had four two-putt birdies and a couple of tap-ins. It was the easiest 64 I've ever shot."
Letzig closed with a 1-under 71, ending with a pulled tee shot into the water at the 18th, resulting in a double bogey.
"I played pretty well - just made that one bad swing," he said.
Freshman Jay Choi was next best for UNM. Choi rebounded from a first round 79 with a 70-69 finish and a share of 65th place. He hit five shots in the water Friday, but managed to weather the storm and post two good rounds to close.
Junior Derek Abel posted rounds of 73-75-70-218 to mirror Choi's total. Junior Ian Medlock shot a 4-over-par 220, good for a tie for 78th, while sophomore Madalitso Muthiya struggled to a 92nd-place finish at 223.
Letzig, who is quietly having one of the best seasons in the Mountain West Conference, criticized the lackluster performance of some of his teammates.
"Some of these other guys just don't have any heart," he said. "If it's not going perfect, if there's any adversity in the round whatsoever, guys just blow up with 76 or 77. I don't know. Jay Choi came back well. We're too inconsistent."
Millican agreed with the senior, saying that the Thunderbird was a case where, besides Letzig, "everyone just played bad on a really easy golf course."
"I don't like to point the finger at anyone, but it's disappointing when some of your top guys aren't as sharp as you'd like at this time of year," Millican said.
UNM begins its postseason in two weeks at the MWC conference championship, where bad weather and a difficult course may play into the Lobos' hands.
"My goal is not for us to compete at the ASU tournament," Millican said. "My goal is for us to compete at the end of the year.
