LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The fall campaign for the NM State men's golf team rolls on in Albuquerque, N.M., as they compete against 17 other programs at the William H. Tucker Invitational hosted by New Mexico. The tournament will mark the Aggies' first of two consecutive in-state events with the squad slated to participate in the NB3 Match Play on Oct. 7-8.
 
This weekend's three-round tournament will see teams play 36 holes on Friday before returning Saturday for the final round of competition at the Par-72 UNM Championship Course which measures at 7,555 yards.
 
AGGIE LINEUP
For the second consecutive week, the Aggies' lineup will consist of seniors Javier Delgadillo, Ethan Klose and Anthony Lara, junior Vari Mariscal and sophomore Mateo Payan. This group of Aggies make up five of the eight Aggie returners on this year's roster.
 
The Aggies last competed at the Whirlwind Invitational on Sept. 8-9, when they finished fourth as a team and were led individually by second-year Aggie Mateo Payan, who shot 12-under to conclude the week in a tie for fifth place.
 
THE FIELD
NM State will be joined in Albuquerque by the host New Mexico in addition to Arkansas State, Colorado, Colorado State, Eastern Michigan, Fresno State, Grand Canyon, Long Beach State, North Texas, Oral Roberts, Rice, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Stetson, Tarleton, USC and UTEP.
 
This will mark the second tournament of the year that the Aggies compete against Arkansas State and UTEP. Including NM State, this weekend's field will include nine 2024-25 NCAA Regional participants as Colorado, Colorado State, Grand Canyon, Long Beach State, New Mexico, Oral Roberts, Santa Clara and USC each joined the Aggies as regional qualifiers last spring.
 
THE COURSE
Since it was officially opened in 1967, The Championship Golf Course has been one of the finest facilities of its kind nationwide. It has been nationally recognized by Golf Digest Magazine as one of the top 25 public courses in the country, and in January of 1991 Golfweek Magazine rated all public and private courses in the country by state and dubbed The Championship Course the number one course to play in New Mexico.
 
The Course is still holding strong in the rankings years later, and in 1998, Golfweek tabbed The Championship Course No. 2 in the West, behind only the Stanford University Golf Course in Palo Alto, Calif. The Championship Course is no stranger to major tournaments. It was the site of the 1950, 1976 and 1992 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships as well as the 1998 NCAA Championships. In 1987 the course was the sight of the women's NCAA tourney.
 
The Championship Course has been home to the William H. Tucker Invitational for the past 43 years (2nd longest running college tournament), and in 2015 it hosted the 61st incarnation of the event. The course has also been home to three Western Athletic Conference Men's Championships (1979, 1982, 1989).
 
William H. Tucker Invitational
Dates: Friday, Sept. 19 – Friday, Sept. 20 (Two rounds Friday, one round Saturday)
Location: Albuquerque, N.M.
Course: UNM Championship Course
Par/Yardage: 72/7,555 yards
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Every shot from the Aggies' season opener can be tracked via Scoreboard.Clippd.com. Fans can also head to the NM State men's golf schedule page for live stats and results.
 
For complete coverage of NM State Men's Golf, follow us on Twitter (@NMStateMGolf), Instagram (@NMStateMGolf) and Facebook (NM State Men's Golf). You can also follow along with Aggie Men's Golf via NMStateSports.com.