New Mexico Men’s Golf Clinches Victory at 2023 William H. Tucker Intercollegiate
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The New Mexico men’s golf team achieved a triumphant moment under the leadership of Coach Jake Harrington by winning the 2023 William H. Tucker Intercollegiate. In a thrilling display of skill and determination, the Lobos secured their first victory of the Harrington era, marking a historic milestone for the team. This victory also marked their 15th tournament win at home, with their last triumph dating back to 2019.
The Lobos demonstrated their prowess on the final day of the tournament with a remarkable 13-under performance, which turned a two-shot deficit into a three-shot lead over Texas Tech. The team concluded the event at an impressive 29-under, outperforming their rivals, the Red Raiders, who finished at 26-under. San Diego State (14-under), San Francisco (12-under), and UNLV (11-under) rounded out the top five among the 20 participating teams.
Head Coach Jake Harrington expressed his delight, stating, “It is always great to get that first victory. Coaching these young men is a privilege. From the day I stepped foot on campus, they have bought into what I have been teaching them.”
The Lobos displayed exceptional teamwork, with three of their players securing top-ten finishes on the individual leaderboard. Albert Boneta and Bastien Amat both tied for fourth place at 9-under, while Matthew Watkins impressed with a 5-under 67 during the final round, finishing tied for seventh at 8-under. Watkins’s consistent performance was particularly noteworthy, as he maintained par or better in all nine rounds of the season.
Coach Harrington emphasized the importance of a strong start, saying, “The key was our first five holes of the day. To get through the toughest stretch of the golf course at even par, we took the lead there and put us in position to win.”
The Lobos will continue their journey on October 9-10 when they close out the fall season at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational, hosted by California.
New Mexico Women’s Golf: 12th Place Finish at Schooner Fall Classic
NORMAN, Okla. — The New Mexico women’s golf team concluded their participation in the Schooner Fall Classic with a 12th-place finish at the Belmar Golf Club. In a highly competitive field, the Lobos showcased their resilience, shooting their best round of the event with a 3-over 283 to finish at 24-over.
Reigning NCAA Champion Wake Forest emerged victorious, finishing at an impressive 29-under. Among the 15 teams in the competition, only Virginia Tech (7-under), Purdue (3-under), and Houston (2-under) managed to finish under par.
Head Coach Jill Trujillo commented on her team’s performance, stating, “We played much more steadily today. We had a few late bogeys on our second nine, but all-in-all it was a good day.”
Lisa-Marie Pagliano led the Lobos on Monday with a stellar 1-under 69, marking her first round under par of the season. Lauren Lehigh and Myah McDonald also contributed with even-par final rounds of 70. Lehigh secured the position of the Lobos’ top individual finisher at 2-over for the event, tying for 25th place.
The Lobos will return to action from October 6-8 at the Ron Moore Intercollegiate, hosted by the University of Denver.
New Mexico Soccer Team Achieves Gritty Draw Against Bulldogs
FRESNO, Calif. — The New Mexico soccer team displayed resilience and determination as they battled to a hard-fought scoreless draw against Fresno State. The Lobos faced numerous challenges early in the game, with injuries and yellow cards threatening their momentum.
Despite these setbacks, the Lobos held the upper hand in the match, taking eight shots with three on goal. Natalie DeGagne stood out with a team-high three shots on goal in the first half. UNM outshot Fresno State 14-7 and dominated in shots on goal (3-0) and corner kicks (7-5).
UNM’s goalkeeper, Mariah Scott, was solid between the posts, handling the two shots she faced with poise and securing her first clean sheet as a Lobo. The team’s defensive efforts limited Fresno State’s scoring opportunities, with the Bulldogs managing just two shots on goal.
The Lobos showed promise in their offensive plays, with several close calls, but couldn’t find the back of the net. The match ended in a draw, with both teams leaving the field with one point.
The Lobos’ next challenge awaits as they continue their conference play at home against Colorado College on Thursday, September 28, and Air Force on Sunday, October 1, both games will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.
