by Brandon Call
Daily Lobo
After falling from a No. 1 national ranking, UNM golfer Charlie Beljan is setting the bar high for the rest of the season.
Beljan now ranks No. 27, according to Golfstat standings released Friday. The number is down from No. 11 last week.
Beljan said he is looking to improve his ranking and return to the top spot.
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"Obviously, I want to be No. 1 again," he said. "I started off really well with some high expectations and ended up getting to No. 1 in the country - stayed there for a couple of weeks - and now I'm just hanging around the top 25 or so."
Beljan posted individual wins at the William H. Tucker Invitational at home in September and the Club Glove Intercollegiate in Somis, Calif., in October.
The senior golfer has six top-25 finishes in eight outings on
the season.
With some of the most
important tournaments of the season coming up, Beljan said he can use them to boost his ranking.
"I'm just looking forward to the bigger tournaments coming up at the end of the season right now," he said. "The Mountain West Conference tournament, regionals and the NCAA tournament - I'm hoping to do well in those."
Winning conference will not be easy for Beljan. The MWC has 10 players ranked in the top 100. Brigham Young's Daniel Summerhays is ranked the highest at No. 15, while UNLV's Jarred Texter is second at No. 22.
The strong conference competition can help Beljan and other Lobo players step up their games, assistant coach Chris Wall said.
"I'm glad that we have such a strong conference," he said. "It makes our players stronger as they are facing quality opponents week in and week out."
Beljan has received numerous accolades this season.
In September, he was named the men's golfer of the week by Golfweek Magazine. In addition, he was recently added to the 2007 Ben Hogan Award Watch List. The Hogan Award is the most prestigious in college golf and is given annually to the top player.
Beljan said he is thrilled to be named to the watch list.
"Ben Hogan was the one who really started amateur golf and got things going in the United States," he said. "So, that's definitely an honor for me to even be recognized for
my play."
Last week at the Tucson National Invitational Tournament, Beljan finished tied for 16th at 1-under par.
Beljan also finished tied for 45th at the Morris Williams Intercollegiate in Austin, Texas, in late March.
Beljan's game has not been up to par lately, Wall said.
"He started off really well, but now he seems to be in a little bit of a slump," he said. "He's playing some good golf, but he's not playing to his potential."
Beljan will have to step up his game if he wants to win in the postseason, Wall said.
"I think he has a real good shot at the conference, regional and national titles if he plays to his full potential," he said. "I hope the team shows up for him to give him support at regionals so that we can move on to the national championship."
Beljan said improving his game will not only help him in the individual rankings, but it will also help the team perform better.
"I just try to go out there and do my best each tournament," he said. "If I play well each week, then I can lead by example."
Men's golf at ASU Thunderbird Invitational
Friday, all day
Tempe, Ariz.
