By Mark Smith
Enchantment Sports
Editor in Chief
One of the most impressive groups of Albuquerque professional golfers tee it up today in the first round of the annual 54-hole New Mexico Open.
The 54-hole event is at Sandia Golf Club.
Defending champion Tyler Torano of Chula Vista, Calif,., and former three-time champion Nick Mason of Denver are among the favorites, but the Duke City features the likes of former champions Wil Collins, D.J. Brigman, Notah Begay III, recent PGA Championship player David Muttitt and PGA Tour Latinoamérica player Sam Saunders, a former La Cueva High and University of New Mexico Lobo star
Current UNM star Sean Carlon is also in the field as an amateur. All of the aforementioned players tee off in the afternoon today (Sept. 11), then in the morning on Wednesday.
“I’m playing well again and I think I have a good chance to win,” says Mason, who won the title from 2014-16. “I just finished second in a pro-am in Scottsbluff (Ariz.). But this field is really strong this year, because the New Mexico Open has become of the premier state opens in the country.”
There is a cut after 36 holes of the $85,000 event with a first prize of $14,000.
The final round is Thursday.
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