DENVER - New Mexico State's Joon Lee and Idaho's Teo Poplawski have been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Golfers of the Month for October.
Lee, a junior from Surrey, British Columbia (Western New Mexico), recorded three top-20 finishes during the month of October. He opened the month by winning the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate in Albuquerque, N.M. with a 4-under par 212 (74-71-67). He then finished in fifth place at the Firestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio with a 3-under 213 (68-75-70). In his final tournament of the month, Lee tied for 18th at the Aggies' Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate with a three-round total of 219 (70-75-74). He ended the month with a 71.5-stroke average and carded five of his nine rounds under par. New Mexico State finished in the top four of all three tournaments.
Poplawski, a junior from Williston, Vt. (International Junior Golf Academy), played in two tournaments last month and averaged 72.3 strokes over six rounds. At the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational in Washington, Poplawski tied for 20th place with a three-round total of 223 (72-74-77). She then finished fifth at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown with a 5-under par 211 (73-68-70), the best total by a WAC player over the last month. The latter tournament included seven top-50 teams and her score bested three players ranked in the top 50 in the nation. Poplawski's efforts moved her up in the national rankings by over 60 spots to 84th, second only to her teammate Kayla Mortellaro in the WAC.
Other men nominated: Blake Brown, Boise State; Bhavik Patel, Fresno State; Matt Rawitzer, Idaho; Scott Smith, Nevada; Jay Myers, San Jose State; and Tyson McFarland, Utah State.
Other women nominated: Hayley Young, Boise State; Chelsea Czinski, Fresno State; Ka‘ili Britos, Hawai‘i; Joyce Chong, Nevada; and Demi Mak, New Mexico State.
-WAC-