Murder victim beloved person, golf pro

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - The search is still on for the killer who shot a visiting golf pro in front of his family Tuesday after he walked in on a burglary at a friend's home.

Meanwhile friends and family picked a unique way to remember Saul Sanchez.

Sanchez, 39, was a Roswell native working as a golf pro about 100 miles away in Denver City, Texas.

On Thursday friends and family gathered at Spring River Golf Course in Roswell to support each other and to play a round in honor of their friend and brother.

"I appreciate that, you know them coming out here and doing that because he wouldn't have wanted anything else besides to enjoy this beautiful day," said Sergio Flores, Sanchez's older brother.  

The Roswell native was head golf professional at the Yoakum County Golf Club in Denver City.

"He worked really, really hard to become a (Professional Golf Association) member, and I know he was so excited when that came true for him," said Carlton Blewett of Spring River Golf Course.

Sanchez had returned to Roswell for his sister's funeral this week and was staying at a friend's home on West Third Street when he walked in on a burglary Tuesday afternoon. 

According to police, the suspect shot and killed Sanchez and then ran off. As the search for the killer continues, those closest to Sanchez gathered at the course, a place where he used to work and loved to be.

"This is what he'd want us probably to do, and he'd probably call us sissies if we were crying," said Neil Bhakta, a close friend of Sanchez's for more than 20 years. "Saul was my brother, we were inseparable."

Like others, Bhakta said Sanchez made friends wherever he went, and that he was a great golfer.

"When he started I mean everybody was shocked how good he got real fast," said Bhakta.

Sanchez left behind a wife and three young daughters. Family members said his wife and two daughters were with him when he was shot.
    
It's a shocking loss his friends just can't believe.

"The most generous man in the world," said Bhakta.

"Saul was a lot of fun to be with, a lot of fun to be around, and a great friend to play golf with, we'll really miss him," added Blewett.

"A loving brother, the loving father, the loving son.  We're going to truly miss him, truly miss him," said Flores.

There will be a memorial service for Sanchez at 1 p.m. Monday at the Civic Center in Roswell. There are also donation funds for his wife and kids. One is under Betty Sanchez at First American Bank, and the other is under Saul Sanchez Memorial at Sundown Bank.

Police said the killer is described as about 6 feet-tall, wearing a mask and hoodie to conceal his identity. Anyone with information on the crime can contact the Roswell Police Department.