GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Holding a four-stroke lead after the first round, the No.21/23 Western New Mexico University men’s golf team stretched that lead to 10-strokes after the first two rounds of the Mustang Intercollegiate Monday afternoon at the Palm Valley Golf Course.
WNMU opened with a sizzling 283 and after a second round 291 currently hold a 574 to lead the 16-team field by 10-shots over a trio of teams in CSU-Monterey Bay, UC-Colorado Springs and Dixie State.
Harry Wetton (Bedford, England/The Bedford School) found his stroke early and often for the Mustangs as the sophomore guided the Mustangs and leads on the individual side with a 137 with rounds of 67 and 70 to lead by a stroke. His first round 67 was tied for the lowest round of any golfer on the day. He shinned when it came to many of the top stats including tying for first in birdies with 11, tied for second in par-five scoring (4.25) and par-three scoring (3.00), as well as tying for third in par-four scoring (3.95). Thomas Neve (Epsom, England/Cams Hill School/Merrist College) tied Wetton’s team-best second round of a 70, along with an opening 71 for a 141 to sit in a tie for fifth. Neve was tied with Wetton for second in par-five scoring (4.25) and added eight birdies. Calum Hill (Kinross, Scotland/Kinross HS) carded a first round 71 and after his 76 to wrap up the first day he tallied a 147 and is in a tie for 18th. He added seven birdies on the day. Ross White (Dollar, Scotland/Kinross HS) re-entered the top-five for the Mustangs and had similar rounds of 74 and 75 to post a 149 to tie for 31st. White tied Neve with eight birdies. Rounding out WNMU in the top-five was Deryk “Buzz” Perales who carded a 154 with rounds of 76 and 78 to land in a tie for 58th. Perales was one of 12 golfers during the first two rounds to score an eagle.
As a team, WNMU led the field in birdies with 37, in par-five scoring (4.48), second in par-four scoring (4.14) and third in par-three scoring (3.38).
The Mustangs also had two golfers enter as individuals in Ben Skinner (Hertfordshire, England/Lorretto Academy) and Daniel Young (Cheshire, England/Eaton Bank HS). Skinner opened with a 76 and then came back strong with a 71 to post a 147 to sit in a tie for 18th along with Hill. Skinner collected 23 pars on the day to tie with teammate Neve. Young didn’t have a score in the first round and then fired a 78 in the second round.
The third and final round of the Mustang Intercollegiate will wrap up on Tuesday. Live stats will once again be available here.
