NM State Men Return to Action at Herb Wimberly Memorial

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Following a breakout performance on the national stage at the NB3 Matchplay at Twin Warriors last week, the Aggie men’s golf team will return to competition on its home course. This Monday and Tuesday, NM State will serve as host for the Herb Wimberly Memorial – a 54-hole event played at the New Mexico State University Golf Course.
 
Play is scheduled to open at 8:15 a.m. MT with the 15 competing teams set to play 36 holes on Monday followed by a final round on Tuesday that will also begin at 8:15 am.
 
AGGIE LINEUP
The full Aggie roster will be in action this week as it competes on its home track. The five Aggies competing toward the team score will be Aidan Thomas, Javier Delgadillo, Vari Mariscal, Ethan Klose and Alexandre Bauduin. Of this group, Thomas, Delgadillo, Klose and Bauduin helped the Aggies secure the men’s team title at the NB3 Matchplay last week. This will also mark the second tournament of the season that Vari Mariscal competes in for the Aggies after participating in the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational late last month.
 
Meanwhile, Max Chan, Lance Christensen Jr., Jackson Funkhouser, Kostka Horno, Jaxson Kenzo, Anthony Lara, Logan Morris and Mateo Payán will each participate in the tournament as individuals.
 
For four Aggies, this will mark their collegiate debut as freshmen Max Chan, Jackson Funkhouser and Kostka Horno each compete in their first tournament attached with NM State. Additionally, Jaxson Kenzo, who recently joined the Aggie program, will also make his debut as a member of the Crimson and White.

THE FIELD

NM State will look to defend its title for the fifth consecutive year and will be joined in Las Cruces by Texas Southern, Texas A&M – Commerce, Incarnate Word, UT Permian Basin, Midland CC, Odessa College, South Mountain CC, New Mexico JC, New Mexico Military Institute, Weatherford College, Garden City CC, Murray State College, Hutchinson CC and Western Texas College.

 

This year’s field will look similar to the field from 2023 as Incarnate Word, New Mexico JC, Texas A&M – Commerce, Odessa College, South Mountain CC, Weatherford College and Texas Southern all make their return for the 2024 installment.

 

THE COURSE

The NM State Golf Course is a championship 18-hole course that was named the No. 18 college golf course in 2024 according to Golfer’s Choice. Additionally, the course was named a top-10 golf course in New Mexico and earned the title of Best Golf Course in Las Cruces according to the Las Cruces Bulletin. The course which includes views of the Organ and “A” Mountains also features a top-notch practice facility with a large driving range, contoured putting greens and a short-game practice area.

 

Herb Wimberly Memorial

Dates: Monday, Oct. 14 – Tuesday, Oct. 15 (Two rounds Monday, one round Tuesday)

Location: Las Cruces, N.M.

Course: NM State Golf Course

Par/Yardage: 72/7,242 yards

 

ABOUT HERB WIMBERLY

For more than 30 years, Herb Wimberly led the Aggies as the Head Men’s Golf Coach and the head golf professional and was a pioneer and trailblazer for the NM State golf program.

 

As the head coach of the Aggies, Wimberly’s teams went on to achieve national prominence, winning six Missouri Valley Conference titles and one Big West Conference title. Wimberly was also a six-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year and also the Big West Conference Coach of the Year once. Throughout his coaching career in Las Cruces, Wimberly coached 18 All-Americans at NM State.

 

His teams were incredibly successful, winning more than 20 tournaments, and finishing second more than 20 additional times. Wimberly’s teams qualified for 13 NCAA Championships, including 10 consecutive appearances. Wimberly and his NCAA Golf committee hosted the 1968 NCAA Championships at the NMSU Golf Course.

 

Throughout the Southwest, Wimberly was one of the most recognizable figures in the sport. He was one of the founding fathers of the newly formed Sun Country PGA Section and was named its first President in 1974. Wimberly also became the first PGA member to serve as the President of two different PGA Sections.

 

In 1988, Wimberly brought the PGA Golf Management program to New Mexico State University – one of just three schools in the nation to have the program at the time. Wimberly would continue to serve as the co-director of the program until 1993 when he retired. In addition to his contributions to golf throughout the Southwest, Wimberly was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2009. Just two years later, Wimberly was the recipient of the NMSU College of Business Traders Award.

 

In 2013, Wimberly achieved Half-Century Club membership in the PGA after being elected to membership in 1963. In 2023, Wimberly was inducted to the PGA of America Hall of Fame Herb – joining his brother, Guy.

 

HOW TO FOLLOW

Live scoring for the Herb Wimberly Memorial will be on GolfStat.com. Fans can also check the NM State athletics website for updated scores and daily recaps. Additionally, fans in Las Cruces are invited to attend the event free of charge.

 

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.

 

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