COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – While the casual golfer prepares to shut down their game for the winter, the NM State men's golf team hits the road this weekend for the first time in 2022-23. With a trip to Colorado Springs, head coach Mike Dirks and company will take on their first of four challenges this fall.  
 
After returning from Colorado, the Aggies stay in the Land of Enchantment for two tournaments before heading to Oklahoma for The Clerico, hosted by Oral Roberts.

The Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational is in its 53rd season in 2022. Formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Invitational and the Pikes Peak Invitational, the event is a staple throughout the collegiate golf landscape.  
 
Just as it is in 2022, the Aggies opened the 2021-22 slate in the Air Force hosted event. Finishing in 11th place as a team, NM State was led by Aidan Thomas, who finished in a tie for 14th, shooting two-under throughout the tournament. Alvaro Morales posted a solid final two rounds, carding an even 144 over the final 36 holes.  
 
2022 Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational 
Dates: Friday, September 9 – Sunday, September 11 
Location: Colorado Springs, Colo. 
Course: Eisenhower – Blue Course 
Par/Yardage: 72/7,541 
 
How to Follow 
Like most collegiate golf tournaments, the best way to follow along with the Aggies' 2022 season opener will be on Golfstat. Live updates will also be provided throughout the day via the NM State Men's Golf Twitter page. 
 
The Field 
Along with NM State, the 24-team field includes Air Force, Boston College, California Baptist, Cal Poly, Cal-State Northridge, Colorado, Colorado State, Denver, Idaho, Murray State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, San Jose State, SIU-Edwardsville, South Dakota, Southern Utah, Utah State, Utah Tech, Utah Valley, UTEP, Weber State, Wofford, and Wyoming.  
 
Format 
The tournament will take place over three days with both a team and individual tournament. The Aggies will compete in the 54-hole team tournament, held on the Eisenhower Blue Course. The five members of each team will play on the Blue Course on Friday and Saturday. Golfers will play 18 holes with tee times beginning at 8:30 a.m. (MT). Sunday's tee times will begin at 7:30 a.m. (MT). 
 
Teeing Off for the Aggies 
1. Aidan Thomas 
2. Garrison Smith 
3. River Smalley 
4. Javier Delgadillo 
5. Alvaro Morales 
 
Numbers to Know 
3 – The Aggies bolster the roster with a trio of newcomers – Alexandre Bauduin (Bassussarry, France), Javier Delgadillo (El Paso, Texas), and River Smalley (Farmington, N.M.). 
5 – Despite the three newcomers, the Aggies return fives members from the 2021-22 team – Lance Christensen Jr.,Alvaro Morales, Joseph Robson, Garrison Smith, and Aidan Thomas. 
8 – NM State will travel to eight states for tournaments in 2022-23 – Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Louisiana, and Utah.   113 – In the initial Golfstat rankings for the 2022-23 season, NM State enters at No. 113 in the nation.  
184 – Thomas enters the year ranked 184th among NCAA golfers. Thomas is the only Aggie inside the top 250 to begin the season.