TUCSON, Ariz. – After taking a slight hiatus for the winter months, NM State men's golf returns to the links on Monday, January 30. For the tenth straight year, NM State will compete in an event hosted by the University of Arizona when they compete in the 2023 Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate.
 
The Aggies have a deep history with the newly-named Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate. Back in 1981, Dan Koesters won the individual title of the inaugural event, shooting a 206 (-4) at the Randolph Park Golf Club.
 
With the Arizona Thunderbird Intercollegiate beginning on Monday, the event begins the first of seven spring tournaments for NM State. The Aggies will also play in events hosted by Houston (Feb. 13-14), Louisiana (Feb 27 – Mar. 1; Mar. 13-14), Michigan (Mar. 4-5), Texas A&M (Apr. 10-11), and Brigham Young (Apr. 21-22), before the WAC Men's Golf Championships (Apr. 28-30).

The event in Tucson is open to the public and will be free to attend.
 
2023 Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate
Dates: Monday, January 30 – Tuesday, January 31
Location: Tucson, Ariz.
Course: Tucson Country Club
Par/Yardage: 72/7,072
 
How to Follow
Like most collegiate golf tournaments, the best way to follow along with the Aggies' 2023 spring 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 and the host, Arizona, the 15-team field includes Brigham Young, Cal Poly, California, Central Michigan, Iowa State, Long Beach State, New Mexico, SMU, Santa Clara, Seattle U, St. Mary's, Texas A&M, and West Virginia.
 
Format
The tournament will take place over two days with both in Tucson and will consist of the standard 54 holes. On Monday, the Aggies will play two rounds of 18, totaling 36 holes for the opening day. To wrap up the tournament, the field will play a final round on Tuesday.
 
Teeing Off for the Aggies
1. Aidan Thomas
2. Garrison Smith
3. Joseph Robson
4. Lance Christensen Jr.
5. Javier Delgadillo
 
Numbers to Know
1 – The Aggies added a newcomer, Mohamed Nazir Bourehim, over winter break. Bourehim hails from Rabat, Morocco and looks to make an immediate impact for NM State this spring.
62 – Golfstat currently has NM State ranked as the No. 62 team in all of Division I golf. To begin the season, NM State entered at No. 113 in the nation.
12 – 2022-23 marks year number 12 of leading the Aggies for Mike Dirks.
6 – Garrison Smith ranks sixth among Division I golfers in the most recent Golfstat rankings. Earlier this week, Smith was named to the watch list for the Ben Hogan Award.
7 – The Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate is the first of seven spring tournaments for NM State.