LAS CRUCES, N.M.-The New Mexico State men’s golf team held on to the lead on the final day of the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate to win by 10 strokes at the NMSU golf course Tuesday morning.
Senior Freddy Esparza (El Paso, Hanks HS) led the Aggies as he fired a career low 5-under-par 67 on Tuesday to put him in second place. He was only two stokes behind Nebraska’s Brady Schnell who brought in a three round total of 10-under-par 206.
“This is our backyard, so we just wanted to defend it,” Esparza said. “We can’t let other teams come in here and beat us.”
Sophomore Travis Reid (Clovis, N.M.) and Junior Kevin Lozares (Mountain View, Calif.) tied for sixth place with one other player carding scores of 3-under-par 213. Lozares scored a season best 3-under-par 69 in the third round to help secure the Aggie victory.
“All five guys on the team roster played really well this week, especially Freddy [Esparza],” head coach Scott Lieberwirth said. “It was good to see Esparza play so well, with him being a senior and this being his last go around on his home course.”
The Aggies shot a team total of 13-under-par 851, while Nebraska took second as they shot their best round of the tournament on Tuesday. San Jose State, who was in second after the first day of play, dropped down the leader board to finish in third place carding a 3-over-par 867.
Junior Todd Napikoski (Colorado Springs, Colo.) was the fourth player on the team roster to place in the top-20 shooting a 5-over-par 221, with junior Matt Edwards (Henderson, Nev.) just outside the top-20 finishing the tournament strong in round three carding an even par 72. Edwards ended the tournament in a tie for the No. 21 spot with three other players, including an individual player from NMSU, all bringing in scores of 6-over-par 222.
“Kevin Lozares, who is our rodeo kid, played really well for us today, and that was the kind of addition we needed on our team today,” Lieberwirth said.
Red-shirt freshman Josh Stewart (Albuquerque, Eldorado HS) ended the tournament in a tie for 16th with a player from Weber State carding a score of 4-over-par 220, and freshman Mark Mueller (Mesa, Ariz.) was one of the players to tie with Matt Edwards.
“We needed to get some confidence right now, so having our home tournament came at the right time for us,” Lieberwirth said. “It’s a place we’re familiar with, and that gave us a chance to just go out and play. The team also excuted really well, and played well in the wind, so that also boosted our confidence.”
Freshman Ryan Wood (El Paso, Coronado HS) shot 9-over-par 225, and senior Andrew Gulick fired a 19-over-par 235. Both were playing as individuals.
The Aggies will conclude their fall season as they travel to Kaneohe, Hawai’i for the University of Hawai’i Intercollegiate Nov. 6-8. Fans can get a recap of the tournament at www.nmstatesports.com.