The 48th edition of the William H. Tucker Invitational presents the UNM men's golf team with an opportunity not often seen in the collegiate game - a three-peat.
The Lobos will get their big chance on home soil, at the UNM Championship Course.
"It would be awesome," head coach Glen Millican said. "Winning is exactly what we're looking to do come Saturday."
The Duke City will play host to some of the best teams in the nation Sept. 12 and 13, including perennials like the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and UNLV. Powerhouses Stanford University and Pepperdine University, will also be in attendance.
Whoever comes out on top will have conquered a beast of a golf course; the rough is deep, the greens are getting faster and firmer by the day, and plenty of trouble lurks at every turn to gobble up wayward shots.
"I would take even par right now," Millican said. "No matter what."
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The Tucker gives the Lobos a chance to trot out two squads, both of which Millican said have a chance to win.
The first team features three returning players from last year's Mountain West Conference championship team: juniors Jay Reynolds and Madalitso Muthiya and sophomore Jay Choi.
Joining the trio are 2002 U.S. Junior Amateur champ Charlie Beljan, the highly-touted freshman from Mesa, Ariz., and junior Miguel Griego, a transfer from Oral Roberts University.
Beljan said as the newcomer, he feels some extra, unwanted pressure.
"But I feel like I can turn that around and make it work for me," he said. "If coach wants me playing on that varsity squad, why not go out there and show that I belong? I can't wait."
Reynolds, who has battled back injuries during much of his career in the cherry and silver, said he is healthy and ready to go.
"Any time you're playing your home course and you're not excited, something's wrong," Reynolds said. "We're definitely the favorites."
What are Reynolds' expectations for himself this weekend?
"I've got 9-under in my mind to win," he said.
Muthiya said coming out of the gate at the UNM Championship Course should be a confidence builder for the Lobos. Home-course advantage is definitely a factor, he added, but disaster is just one shot away.
"If you fall asleep on any hole, this golf course will catch you," Muthiya said.
Though Michael Letzig's graduation to the professional ranks in May has left the team without a clear leader, Millican said this team is deeper than last year's.
The second UNM team features seasoned veteran Ian Medlock, now a senior, who shot a 4-under-par 68 in the first round of qualifying. Joining Medlock are redshirt freshmen Jeff Lanier and Chase Thomas, redshirt sophomore Tyler Symons and senior Jim Anderson.
"The toughest thing now is figuring out which one of these good players to sit out, instead of which guy to put in the five spot and hope he plays well, like last year," Millican said. "So far, that's a better problem to have."
A stacked field and one of the trickiest courses on the college schedule doesn't worry the third-year coach, he said, as long as his team competes the way they are capable of.
"If these guys go out and play the way they did in qualifying, then both teams will be in good shape," Millican said. "But you just never know. Honestly, this is the first year I've had absolutely no clue how the team is going to perform."
