Socorro Open Begins Thursday

Mountain Mail Reports

More than 70 professional golfers will compete for $36,650 in prize money at the Socorro Open beginning Thursday.
The pro field is headlined by three-time Socorro champion Miguel Griego and other former winners Larry Mackin of Tucson, Joe Huber of Show Low, Ariz., and Scott Gates of Albuquerque.
Two recent graduates of UNM will be making their professional debut: Nick Geyer, who is a two-time winner of the amateur championship at the Socorro Open, and Brandon Putnam. New Mexico State University will be represented by Travis Reed and the Aggie golf coach Scott Lieberwirth.
Play kicked off Wednesday with the pro-am, and the Socorro Open starts Thursday. Profess-ionals and six flights of amateurs will play 54 holes, with Saturday’s final round determining the winner. The senior pro event will be 36 holes, with the champion crowned after Friday’s round.
The favorite to win the amateur championship flight is Anton Salome of Socorro. He will face stiff competition from Ntegwa Mukosa of NMSU and Zach Fullerton of New Mexico Junior College .
Mark Pelletier of El Paso will be defending his senior professional title. Past champions in the senior professional field include Larry Mackin, Joe Huber, Tom Storey, Jack Slayton, Bob Gaona and Carlton Blewett.
Tournament director and Socorro head professional Russ Moore said he’s pleased with the large field for the tourney. The event was condensed from seven days to four days to accommodate the players traveling.
Also on Saturday is the Elfego Baca Shootout, the world-famous one-hole, three-mile golf tourney. The event, which is featured in Rick Reilly’s most recent book, “Sports From Hell,” starts at the top of ‘M’ Mountain, with the lone hole at EMRTC.

Socorro Open Begins Thursday