LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The NM State men's golf team delivered a record-setting performance at the Bombs Darts Birds Collegiate, finishing second in a 13-team field after three rounds at Whirlwind Golf Club to start the 2026 campaign. The Aggies posted a program-record 54-hole score of 817 (-47), finishing just three strokes behind team champion Santa Clara (814, -50).
 
Santa Clara claimed the team title after closing with a 273 (-15) in the final round, while Arkansas State's Jake Lile earned low individual honors at 17-under par (199) for the tournament.
 
With the second-place finish, the Aggies also finished atop four Power Four programs as they out-performed Stanford, Southern California, Baylor and California.
 
The Aggies were paced by the trio of Kostka Horno, Mateo Payán and Max Chan, who all recorded top-11 finishes. Horno and Payan each tied for seventh at 13-under par (203), while Chan finished tied for 11th at 11-under (205). Horno closed out the event with a final-round 65 (-7), which represented the second lowest score among the 81-man field. Meanwhile, Payan carded rounds of 67, 68 and 68 to serve as one of the most consistent players in the field. Additionally, Chan opened the tournament with a 66 (-6) and shot under par in all three rounds.
 
Brasen Briones also contributed to the Aggies' runner-up finish, placing tied for 45th at 4-under (212) after firing a 67 (-5) in the second round. In his first collegiate action, Frank Cabeza, competed as an individual and finished tied for 59th at 214 (-2).
 
NM State posted rounds of 270, 272 and 275 to finish at 47-under par for the tournament. The Aggies and were also one of only four teams to finish double digits under par in all three rounds.
 
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