Lobos Runner-Up at Mountain West Men’s Golf Championship
CRESWELL, Ore. –– The No. 20 New Mexico men’s golf team finished runner-up at the 2024 Mountain West Championship, falling in a playoff to San Diego State. Both teams capped 54 holes at Emerald Valley Golf Club at 11-under, but the Aztecs won the playoff 2-under to 1-under.
The Lobos shot the low round of the final day, 7-under, to move up from fifth place to a tie for first during Sunday’s round. They took the lead during the back nine, at one point getting the score to 14-under.
The playoff involved both teams having all five players play the par-5 No. 18, with the top four scores counting. The Lobos finished the hole at 1-under with a birdie from Oliver Cage, while the other four players all shot par. The Aztecs used birdies from their final two players to go with a pair of pars to edge UNM for the title.
Four Lobos finished in the individual top 10, led by Albert Boneta, who shot a final round 68 to finish T-5th at 4-under. Matthew Watkins shot 71 during the final round to finish T-7th at 3-under. Bastien Amat and Carson Herron each finished T-9th at 2-under, as Amat shot 68 and Herron shot 73 on Sunday. Cage, who joined the lineup Sunday as a substitute, shot 75 during the final round.
“I am so proud of the fight we had today,” said head coach Jake Harrington. “We went out today and posted a number early and gave ourselves a chance to win. Golf is a cruel game and a lost ball that got stuck in a tree on 18 from Carson Herron really took the air out of what was a great team round in regulation. With that being said, we still had a chance to win going into the playoff with San Diego State, but fell short. The silver lining is that we showed a ton of fight today and as painful as it is to lose the way we did, we will learn from it and be stronger from this. We will take a couple of days and then get back to work getting ready for NCAA Regionals. This team still has a lot of great things left to accomplish this year and I am excited for what’s to come.”
The Lobos will now await their bid to the NCAA Regionals, which will be held May 13-15. The NCAA selection show will air Wednesday (May 1) at noon MT on Golf Channel.