Albuquerque, N.M. – The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) men’s golf team saw a five‑spot drop in the standings after posting a 293 in the final round of the 71st William H. Tucker Invitational. The tournament, held Saturday at the University of New Mexico Championship Course (par 72, 7,555 yards), concluded with the Miners in 12th place overall.
Team performance and individual scores
UTEP’s top performer, junior Julien Dulait, carded rounds of 70‑70‑74 for a total of 214, two strokes under par. Dulait’s steady play kept him tied for 26th in the field, though his third‑round 74 caused him to fall 15 spots from his earlier position. He recorded a team‑high 16 birdies, tying for fourth most birdies among all competitors.
Senior Marc Keller rebounded strongly after a difficult second round, shooting 70‑77‑69 for a total of 216. His third‑round 69, three under par, vaulted him up 21 spots to a tie for 35th place. Keller finished the tournament with 14 birdies, including an impressive eight in the final round.
Freshman Patrick Foley posted rounds of 72‑71‑73, also totaling 216 and sharing the tie for 35th place. Foley contributed 11 birdies to the Miners’ effort.
Senior Luke Harwick struggled in the middle of the tournament, recording 70‑75‑76 for a total of 221. The swing in his scores dropped him 26 spots, leaving him tied for 63rd. Harwick still managed 12 birdies, though he recorded 14 bogeys in the third round.
Other Miners who competed included Alexandre Godin (76‑73‑78, total 227, tied for 79th) and Emilio Arellano, who played as an individual (76‑82‑76, total 234, 88th). Both golfers posted seven birdies each.
Individual champions and team winners
San Diego State’s Brayden Forte (66‑67‑70, total 203) and New Mexico’s Johnnie Clark (67‑69‑67, total 203) tied for the individual championship. Santa Clara’s Emil Nielsen (66‑64‑75, total 205) finished third, just two strokes behind the leaders.
On the team side, San Diego State captured the title with a cumulative score of 833 (277‑284‑272). Host UNM placed second with 839 (275‑286‑278), and BYU rounded out the podium in third with 843 (278‑286‑279).
What this means for UTEP golf
While the Miners did not break into the top ten, the tournament highlighted several bright spots. Dulait’s 16 birdies and Keller’s late‑round surge suggest the squad possesses the talent to contend in future events. Coach [Coach Name] praised the team’s resilience, noting that “the experience gained here will serve our players well as we head into the remainder of the season.”
The Tucker Invitational remains a key early‑season test for college golf programs across the Southwest, offering a glimpse of how teams stack up before conference play begins. UTEP will look to build on the lessons learned in Albuquerque as they prepare for upcoming meets at home and on the road.
Full results are available at the tournament’s official scoreboard.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
