Lobos Tee off Monday in NCAA Regional 0

Power-packed Field in Albuquerque NCAA Regional Includes No. 1 Oklahoma

The UNM Lobo Men’s Golf Team tees off in the NCAA Regional seeded fifth in a 15-team field on their home course, the University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course.

In the field is No. 1-ranked Oklahoma, No. 12 Arizona State,  No. 14 Texas A&M, No. 22 Texas Tech and No. 31 Stanford. The Lobos, ranked 29th, tee off at 8 a.m. on No. 10.

Fans are allowed on the course provided they follow COVID-9 protocols, a spokeswoman for the Lobos said in a news release.

UNM South, as it’s known to locals, will play 7,555 yards for the 54-hole event. Five teams will advance to the NCAA Championship.

Also in the field are Oregon State, Boise State, South Carolina, Nevada, San Diego, New Mexico State, Oakland and Prairie View A&M, along with individuals from Fresno State, Colorado, St. Mary’s and LMU.

The New Mexico lineup will consist of junior Sam Choi, who is currently ranked No. 23 in the nation as an individual, sophomore Albert Boneta, 2021 Mountain West Freshman of the Year Bastien Amat, freshman Matthew Watkins and junior Brandon Shong. Junior Ignacio Arcaya is the Lobos’ alternate competitor.

Choi, named to the All-Mountain West team this season, helped lead the Lobos in five out of seven tournaments in 2021. He finished tied for first at the 2021 Mountain West Championship and leads UNM with a 70.52 scoring average and a low round of 66 on the season.

Boneta, also named All-Mountain West this season, had a standout season as he claimed his first collegiate victory at the Thunderbird Collegiate in April. He tied for first overall coming in at 12-under par.

Boneta led UNM in two tournaments this season after tying Choi for fifth at the Lobos’ opening tournament in Arizona. The sophomore ranks second on the team in scoring average, 71.33, and has posted a team-low round of 65 twice this season.

By New Mexico Golf News Staff