In the process of making their climb up the leaderboard, play was suspended due to darkness in the second round as the No. 21 Western New Mexico University men’s golf team currently is in second, just a stroke back at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference No. 2 South Invitational on Monday.
The Mustangs were in sixth after the first round with a 307, but have done well so far in the second round currently just three-over on the par 72, 7,832 yard Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course. That leaves them just one-stroke back of current leader Regis as the Rangers held the lead following the first round with a 299, but are 10-over so far on the second round to hold a slight lead over WNMU. Regis’ Matt Robertson and WNMU’s All-American Thomas Neve are currently tied for the top spot with each one-under par so far. Robertson has the low round of the tournament as he opened with a sizzling six-under 66.
Neve began the day with a first round 71, but is so far having an electric second round as he is one-under through 10 holes which has him tied atop the leaderboard. Neve is near the top in terms of pars with 19 which has him tied for third. He is also right there in terms of par-four scoring with a 3.88 average which is good for third as well. All-American Harry Wetton is on a birdie streak so far as he is tied for the most in the field with eight and already has four during the second round through 10 holes. He opened with a 76 and currently has the best second round of any Mustang with a two-under pace which has him tied for fourth. Not only have birdies been his friend, but it has shown in his par-five scoring as he is tied for the top spot averaging 4.50.
All-American Calum Hill and All-RMAC Deryk “Buzz” Perales are separated by just a stroke. Hill is tied for 30th as he opened with an 81, but has come back strong through the first 10 holes in round two where he is just one-over. Hill has utilized 17 pars so far which is good for fourth in the field and is near teammate Wetton in par-five scoring at 4.67 which is good for third. Perales is tied for 37th as he opened with a 79 and is four-over through the first 10 holes in round two. Perales is right behind Hill in pars posting 16. Rounding out the golfers for the Mustangs is Jamie Waltmire. He opened with an 83 and is seven-over through the first 11 holes in round two which has him tied for 61st. He has connected on 14 pars so far.
WNMU also had four individuals in the field that included Robbie Kemsley, Ross White, Daniel Young and Patrick Niland. Kemsley leads that group as he is tied for 30th with a first round 82, but has no scores posted so far in the second round. White and Young are just a few strokes apart with White tied for 58th with an opening round 81 and is so far eight-over through 14 holes in the second round, while Young is tied for 63rd with a first round 82 and is nine-over through 14 holes in the second round. Niland had no scores in either round and ended up withdrawing.
WNMU will resume play on Tuesday morning beginning at 8:30 a.m. as the teams will look to conclude the second round and then turn around and play the third and final round.