LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The NM State men's golf team commences its 2019-20 season with the 51st annual Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational this weekend at the Blue Course of the Eisenhower Golf Club in Colorado Springs, Colo.
 
Eighteen teams, including the Aggies, are slated to compete in the season-opening event, which is hosted by Air Force. The first and second rounds of the 54-hole tournament tee off at 7:30 a.m. (MT) Friday, Sept. 6, and Saturday, Sept. 7, with the final round starting at 7:15 a.m. (MT) Sunday, Sept. 8.
 
THE FIELD
Host institution Air Force welcomes NM State in addition to Boise State, Cal Baptist, Cal State Northridge, Colorado, Drake, Northern Colorado, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Southern Utah, Texas State, UC Davis, Utah State, Utah Valley, UTEP, Valparaiso, Weber State and Wyoming to this year's tournament.
 
Colorado is the reigning champion after winning the 2018 event with a nine-under par (855), followed by Wyoming (-4, 860) and UC Davis (861, -3). The Aggies, meanwhile, finished fifth (-1, 863) behind strong performances from Tadhg Campbell and Michael McGilton, who finished in second and third place, respectively.
 
Campbell shot a six-under par (210) to finish alone in second place, and McGilton followed right behind him at five-under par (211) to tie for third place.
 
THE COURSE
The Blue Course of the Eisenhower Golf Club opened in the 1959 and is named after former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who took part in the dedication ceremony. The 7,511 yard, par 72 course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and is currently ranked as the third best military course in the nation (PGA.com) and the 24th best college course (Golf Week) in the country.
 
THE AGGIES
NM State concluded the 2018-19 campaign with a fifth-place finish at the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championship in Lakewood, Wash., at Oakbrook Golf Club.
 
Senior Niall Powell led all Aggie returnees, shooting a nine-over par (222) to tie for 20^th place. Sophomore Garrison Smith finished tied for 24^th with an 11-over par (224), while senior Ryo Harada placed 31^st with a 14-over par (227).
 
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