by Adrian Doerfler
Daily Lobo
UNM men's golfer Steve Saunders didn't repeat as the Albuquerque Men's City Amateur Golf champion.
But his results weren't too shabby.
After a first-round 70 at Arroyo del Oso on July 6, Saunders came back in the final two rounds - which were played at Los Altos - with a 67 on July 7 and a 65 the following day.
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He shot a collective 12-under for the tournament, tying for second place.
Saunders said he didn't have a great start, but he is happy with the way he closed the amateur championship.
"I played real good (July 8)," he said. "I made up some ground from getting in trouble the first few days. I was disappointed in my play in the beginning, but I had a real strong day."
Last year, one year after he graduated from La Cueva High School, Saunders broke the 15-year-old record set by Notah Begay III. He shot a 22-under par, breaking the record by 5 strokes.
Saunders' performance last year propelled him into his sophomore season, and he emerged as one of the Lobos' top performers.
UNM head coach Glen Millican said the young player showed a lot of promise last
season.
"Steve started a little slow this past spring," he said. "But in the last eight tournaments, he played really well and clearly became our No. 2 player this year, which I think is quite an achievement for a sophomore."
During that stretch, Saunders shot a school-record five consecutive rounds in the 60s. He also finished in the top 20 six times, helping the team qualify for the NCAA Championships.
The year was highlighted when he tied for first place at the Morris Williams Intercollegiate. During his freshman season, he played in nine tournaments, posting two top-12
finishes and helping the Lobos win their fourth
consecutive MWC championship.
Even though Saunders had some productive tournaments last season, he is still not where he wants to be. But he is continuing to work hard on his game this summer, he said.
"Toward the end of the college season, I started to struggle with my swing a little bit," he said. "I felt like I lost a little confidence in my game, so I've been focusing more on my swing and hitting more golf balls, rather than practicing putting and chipping."
Since arriving at UNM, Saunders said he has improved his short game, as well as his course knowledge.
"My chipping and putting has definitely gotten a lot better," he said. "But more so than that, my mental game has really improved as far as learning how to play the game and knowing how to think my way around the course."
Playing in amateur tournaments is a great way for college athletes to concentrate and work on their game - but it's also a chance to relax.
"College tournaments are intense and pretty grueling," Saunders said. "But when I play in the amateur tournaments, especially here in Albuquerque, it's a more laid back atmosphere and more fun. You tend to know everyone you're playing with because you've played with them before, which makes it a more enjoyable experience."
Saunders has proven to be among the best amateur golfers in Albuquerque, but he might not end up being the best in his own family. He lost a round to his little brother for the first time last weekend.
Even though he was a little disappointed, Saunders is still taking his brother under his wing, and they're hoping to see success in the future.
"I knew it was going to happen sooner or later, but I'm kind of sad regardless," he said. "It's all good though. He's growing up, and he's turned into a good player."
