LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State men’s golf team won its second straight Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate title with a combined-team score of 18-under-par 834 (276-276-274) at the NM State Golf Course, Tuesday, Oct. 21.
The Aggies won by 12 strokes as Sam Houston State finished in second with a 6-under-par 846 (283-284-279). The 834 NM State posted during the two-day, three-round tournament is a new school record. The previous school record during a three-round tournament was an 836 at the Cowboy Classic during the 2005-06 season.
“The hard work is paying off. It’s hard to win at home as there can be a lot of pressure that comes with that,” said head coach Mike Dirks. “There was a lot of quality play out there. We’re excited about winning and it is fun to win, plus I feel like we learned a lot this week.”
Three Aggie golfers tied for the individual title and helped the team win the team title. Senior Brett Walker, senior Pat Beyhan and sophomore Luis Medina all tied for first with a 2-under-par 206. Both Walker and Beyhan holed an eagle during the tournament while Beyhan had a team-best 13 birdies in the three rounds of play. Walker had 11 birdies while Medina tallied 39 pars and was 4-under on par-5 holes.
“When you are trying to win a team championship, and that is what our first goal is, and have three guys know and understand that they are playing for both the team and themselves and a tie for the championship, it seems to produce quality play,” said Dirks. “It also shows how deep we are and hopefully how far we can go this year.”
Freshman Isaac Merry had the fourth score that counted towards the final-team score and he tied for 28th with a 3-over-par 216 after marking a 2-under-par 69 in the final round of the tournament. Merry finished with 10 birdies in the three rounds of play this week. Junior Kenneth Fadke wrapped up the lineup for the Aggies as he tied for 39th with a 6-over-par 219.
Playing as individuals for NM State this week, freshman Keith Bennett tied for 36th with a 218, sophomore Travis Benson tied for 48th with a 221, junior Taylor Mihok tied for 71st with a 229 and junior Joey Martinez finished in 74th with a 231.
The Aggies also won the 2013 Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate with a 6-over-par 858. Brett Walker finished with a 207 to win the individual title.
NM State now looks forward to the “Price’s Give Em Five” hosted by UTEP in El Paso, Texas, Oct. 24-26.
WAC RESULTS - Full Results
1. New Mexico State - 834 (-18)
5. Missouri-Kansas City - 856 (+4)
10. Grand Canyon - 867 (+15)
13. Texas-Pan American - 897 (+45)