ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The NM State men's golf team wrapped up its opening tournament of the season – turning in an eighth-place finish at the William H. Tucker Invitational after posting a combined score of 878 (+14). The Aggies shot six-over on Saturday to climb four spots in the standings.
 
Junior Javier Delgadillo submitted the Aggies' top placement – finishing 12^th after recording a 71 (-1) to climb a total of 17 spots on the leaderboard. Delgadillo's final round included a pair of birdies and just one bogey.
 
Aidan Thomas also turned in a top-20 finish as he ended the day tied for 17^th with a score of 217 (+1). Aggie freshman Mateo Payan fired a final-round 69 (-3) to shoot 49 spots up the leaderboard to mark the largest jump by an individual during the final round of play.

In the team standings, the Aggies launched themselves past strong programs, including UTEP and a Southern California team that was receiving votes in the GCAA Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches Poll. On the weekend, the Aggies finished with 44 birdies, including 11 from Aidan Thomas. 
 
William H. Tucker Team Leaderboard (Final)
 
1. Colorado – 282-284-286=852 (-12)
2. New Mexico – 276-279-298=853 (-11)
3. Long Beach State – 285-285-291=861 (-3)
T4. UNLV – 292-286-288=866 (+2)
T4. Grand Canyon – 284-281-301=866 (+2)
6. San Diego State – 289-286-301=876 (+12)
7. Santa Clara – 287-288-302=877 (+13)
8. NM State – 288-296-294=878 (+14)
9. Loyola Marymount – 293-289-301=883 (+19)
10. Arkansas State – 292-282-312=886 (+22)
11. Southern California – 294-282-311=887 (+23)
12. San Francisco – 293-299-297=889 (+25)
13. Stetson – 282-293-315=890 (+26)
14. UTEP – 291-297-305=893 (+29)
15. Fresno State – 304-289-303=896 (+32)
16. Oral Roberts – 298-299-314=911 (+47)
17. Eastern Michigan – 311-303-311=925 (+61)
 
Aggie Scores (Final)
T12. Javier Delgadillo – 71-74-71=216 (E)
T17. Aidan Thomas – 66-73-78=217 (+1)
T24. Mateo Payan – 75-75-69=219 (+3)
T75. Lance Christensen – 76-74-79=229 (+13)
T86. Alexandre Bauduin – 77-78-76=231 (+15)