New Mexico Wins Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship

Tournament News

MARANA, Ariz. – New Mexico posted a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Southern California to win the 2010 Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz. The 15th-seeded Lobos became the lowest seeded team to claim the team title at the event.

The Trojans took the early lead in the match when Matthew Giles downed Nick Geyer, 6 and 4. The two teams traded the next two matches with New Mexico’s Travis Ross and USC’s T.J. Vogel each won 5 and 4. The Lobos evened the match to two points apiece with Brandon Putnam’s 4-2 victory.

That left New Mexico’s John Catlin and USC’s Martin Trainer as the last individual match left on the golf course with Trainer leading 2-up with two holes to play.

“On 17 I tried to get a birdie because I needed to win the hole,” said Catlin. “I bombed the ball over the bunker and put myself into perfect range for a 54-degree (wedge). I hit the 54-degree solid past the hole and then made birdie.”

Catlin again put himself in position for birdie on No. 18, needing to win the hole to keep both his individual match and New Mexico’s team hopes alive.

“Martin (Trainer) hit it down to 15 (feet) and I knew I had to make my putt or it was over,” explained Catlin. “I took like two minutes to look at the break and get the right read and make the best putt I could. Then I committed to the plan, made the best putt I could and it worked out perfectly. The team totally erupted. It was a cool moment.”

The pair proceeded to No. 1 for their playoff hole. Battling his emotions on the tee box, Catlin hit 3-wood on the fairway while Trainer’s shot went left of the fairway under a bush. Trainer was forced to chip back out into the fairway. Catlin followed by knocking his next shot onto the green 30 feet from the pin. His putt went over the right lip, settling eight inches from the hole. Trainer then conceded, giving Catlin and New Mexico the championship.

“We definitely feel good about the way we played this week,” said New Mexico Head Coach Glen Millican. “All four of the teams we played were great teams that are having great years. The format might have been a little different, but it’s always nice to come out on top. Hopefully, this win will make us realize how well we can play and give us some momentum for the rest of the season.”
Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship
Championship Round Results
March 23

Team Results
Championship Match
(15) New Mexico def. (8) Southern California, 3-2

Third-Place Match
(12) Colorado State def. (3) Texas A&M, 3-2

Fifth-Place Match
(13) Iowa def. (6) UNLV, 3-2

Seventh-Place Match
(10) San Diego def. (1) Stanford, 3-2

Ninth-Place Match
(16) Indiana def. (14) Arizona, 3-2

11th-Place Match
(5) UCLA def. (7) Texas Tech, 3-2

13th-Place Match
(4) Arizona State def. (2) Washington, 3-2

15th-Place Match
(9) TCU def. (11) Middle Tennessee, 4-1

Individual Match Results
Championship Match
(15) New Mexico def. (8) Southern California, 3-2
T.J. Vogel, USC def. James Erkenbeck, UNM, 5 and 4
Travis Ross, UNM def. Steve Lim, USC, 5 and 4
John Catlin, UNM def. Martin Trainer, USC, 19 holes
Matthew Giles, USC def. Nick Geyer, UNM, 6 and 4
Brandon Putnam, UNM def. Stewart Hagestad, USC, 4 and 2

Third-Place Match
(12) Colorado State def. (3) Texas A&M, 3-2
Andrea Pavan, TAMU def. Riley Arp, CSU, 6 and 4
Bryce Hanstad, CSU def. Cameron Peck, TAMU, 4 and 3
Ryan Peterson, CSU def. Jordan Russell, TAMU, 3 and 1
Dustin Morris, CSU def. Ignacio Elvira, TAMU, 21 holes
Conrad Shindler, TAMU def. Zahkai Brown, CSU, 1-up

Fifth-Place Match
(13) Iowa def. (6) UNLV, 3-2
Derek Ernst, UNLV def. Brad Hopfinger, UI, 4 and 3
Vince India, UI def. Colby Smith, UNLV, 2-up
Barrett Kelpin, UI def. Brett Kanda, UNLV, 2-up
Chris Brant, UI def. Eddie Olson, UNLV, 4 and 3
Jeremiah Wooding, UNLV def. Bradley George, UI, 2 and 1

Seventh-Place Match
(10) San Diego def. (1) Stanford, 3-2
Scott Brace, USD def. Sihwan Kim, Stan, 5 and 4
Steve Ziegler, Stan def. Kenneth McCready, USD, 3 and 2
Alex Ching, USD def. Andre DeDecker, Stan, 5 and 4
Joseph Bramlett, Stan def. Jason Shano, USD, 6 and 4
Gunner Wiebe, USD def. Steven Kearney, Stan, 20 holes

Ninth-Place Match
(16) Indiana def. (14) Arizona, 3-2
Alex Martin, IU def. Tarquin MacManus, UA, 5 and 3
Jonathan Khan, UA def. David Erdy, IU, 3 and 2
Chase Wright, IU def. Rich Saferian, UA, 1-up
Trent Redfern, UA def. Brant Peaper, IA, 19 holes
Ren Han, IA def. Philip Bagdade, UA, 1-up

11th-Place Match
(5) UCLA def. (7) Texas Tech, 3-2
Alex Shi Yup Kim, UCLA def. Nils Floren, TTU, 19 holes
Pontus Widegren, UCLA def. Chris Ward, TTU, 4 and 3
Matt Smith, TTU def. Pedro Figueiredo, UCLA, 19 holes
Brian Scherer, TTU def. Connor Driscoll, UCLA, 5 and 3
Mario Clemens, UCLA def. Tyler Weworski, TTU, 3 and 2

13th-Place Match
(4) Arizona State def. (2) Washington, 3-2
Nick Taylor, UW def. Jesper Kennegard, ASU, 5 and 3
Richard Lee, UW def. Scott Pinckney, ASU, 5 and 4
Knut Borsheim, ASU def. Chris Williams, UW, 2-up
James Byrne, ASU def. Charlie Hughes, UW, 4 and 3
Braxton Marquez, ASU def. Chris Killmer, UW, 5 and 4

15th-Place Match
(9) TCU def. (11) Middle Tennessee, 4-1
Johan de Beer, TCU def. Kent Bulle, MTSU, 2 and 1
Travis Woolf, TCU def. Jason Millard, MTSU, 2 and 1
Tom Hoge, TCU halved Hunter Green, MTSU
Daniel Jennevret, TCU halved Craig Smith, MTSU
Pontas Gad, TCU def. Brad Simons, MTSU, 4 and 3