Steve Saunders has iron running through his veins.
Since he can remember, he has been involved in golf. His father, Dave Saunders, was a member of the NMSU golf team back in his heyday.
"My dad owns a golf store here in town called Golf Mart," Saunders said. "Golf runs in the family. My dad and my uncles played golf in college. I've been playing ever since I could walk."
Saunders carries on the family tradition at UNM.
After coming to UNM as a recipient of the J.R. and Sue Carriveau Memorial Golf Scholarship, Saunders has blossomed as a Lobo. And he entered this season as an experienced veteran.
"Steve is doing everything we need him to do - he's working hard in the classroom, No. 1," head coach Glen Millican said. "No. 2, he's working very hard on his game."
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Millican said Saunders, who was an Academic All-Mountain West Conference selection his junior year, aims repeat that success this year.
While Saunders focuses on his course work, he said he takes his time on the course just as seriously.
And what a perfect opportunity to learn.
The University will welcome back some old shooters, including Tommy Armour III, Tim Herron, Kent Jones and Michael Letzig, for the 2008 Alumni Golf Tournament on Oct. 20.
Saunders said he looks to be a sponge when the PGA golfers descend upon New Mexico.
"Those guys on the tour, it's fun to pick their brain a little bit and try to figure out some stuff they've figured out on how to be successful in the PGA Tour," he said. "Obviously, people in college don't know as (much) because only something like 1 percent of college players end up on the PGA Tour."
Although few reach golf's highest level, Saunders said he feels he can be part of that elite group.
"I feel like I have the - when I'm playing well - the game to compete," he said. "I've played in a couple professional events - not PGA events."
One of Saunders' professional events was the Gateway Tour, which he participated in over the summer.
"I was tied for 10th heading into the last day," he said. "Then I kind of blew up and shot a 76."
Saunders said there were at least 85 competitors at the tournament. Entering the last round, Saunders was 6-under par, but a paltry 76 meant he finished in 25th place with a score of 2-under.
As much as Millican loves to brag about Saunders, he said UNM is talented from top to bottom.
"Steve's a guy we'd like to have around for 15 (years), not just four years," he said. "But we've got great kids."
Millican said Saunders' job is to prepare some of the younger players to carry the torch when he leaves.
"Next year, Nick Geyer will be a senior. Brandon Putnam will be a senior," he said. "They've been here and a part of what we've been doing for three years. I think those guys will fit right into that role."
And Geyer and Putnam have answered the bell.
Geyer finished with an 8-over 221 in the Windon Memorial Classic on Oct. 6. Putnam, likewise, had a strong showing, finishing tied for 67th after a 1-over par third round put him at 18-over for the tournament. The Lobos finished in 12th place.
As a team, the Lobos' best performance of the season came in the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate, where UNM finished second to UNLV.
Saunders finished tied for fifth at 2-under for the tournament. He was just one of five Lobos who finished in the top 20. Jon Sauer finished tied for eighth place behind Saunders, who finished in fifth.
In golf, Millican said, it's difficult to play perfectly week in and week out.
"We have a bunch of guys that work hard," Millican said. "For us to be consistent year in and year out, we have to have Steve and Jon (Sauer) have better bad tournaments. I mean, they're going to struggle from time to time. It's very tough to play consistently."
But as Saunders has proved, anything is possible with discipline and dedication.
"He's established himself as a leader on this team," Millican said. "I can't say enough great things about Steve."
