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Three Aggies finish among top 10; Aggies shoot five-under in final round.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Photo: Courtesy
LA JOLLA, Calif. – Using a comeback effort, NM State picked up its second tournament title of the year as it finished atop the field at the UC San Diego Invitational. In Tuesday’s final round, the Aggies shot a combined five-under to finish the week with a total score of 885 (+21) at Torrey Pines South Golf Course. The Aggies’ stellar final round allowed them to move four spots up the leaderboard, clearing Arkansas State by two strokes at the 54-hole event.
NM State landed three individuals in the top 10 of the leaderboard, led by Aidan Thomas who placed third after carding a 70 (-2) in the final round of the three-day tournament. Thomas finished the week with a total score of 218 (+2).
The Aggies’ Mateo Payan came in just two strokes behind Thomas as he turned in his best score of the week on Tuesday – finishing with a 70 (-2) to move into a tie for fourth place (220, +4). Meanwhile, Alexandre Bauduin was one of just two players in the field to post a round in the 60s on Tuesday. Bauduin used four birdies and one eagle to turn in a 69 (-3) and move into ninth place (221, -3).
Ethan Klose rounded out his tournament with a 74 (+2) to finish the tournament in a tie for 24th while Javier Delgadillo placed tied for 82nd (237, +21).
AGGIE LEADERBOARD
1. NM State – 301-301-283-885 (+21)
3. Aidan Thomas – 71-77-70-218 (+2)
T4. Mateo Payan – 78-72-70-220 (+4)
9. Alexandre Bauduin – 76-76-69-221 (+5)
T24. Ethan Klose – 76-76-74-226 (+10)
T82. Javier Delgadillo – 79-80-78-237 (+21)
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- With the win, the Aggies have now placed inside the top three of the standings in five of their eight tournaments this season, including finishing among the top three in four of their five competitions this spring.
- This marks the second time this season that the Aggies landed three or more individuals inside the top 10 as they also did so at the Herb Wimberly Memorial when five Aggies secured top-10 placements. In total, Aggie individuals now have a combined 14 top 10 finishes this season.
- Aidan Thomas’ third-place finish is his best finish of the season and his fourth top-10 finish of the year. This also marks his best finish since placing tied for third at the Desert Mountain Intercollegiate in March 2023.
- Mateo Payan’s top-10 placement marks the third time he has finished in the top-10 during his freshman campaign.
- Alexandre Baudin also posted his third top-10 finish of the year and second straight after finishing T10 at the GCU Invitational. His 69 on Tuesday is also his fifth round in the 60s this season.
- Ethan Klose turned in his third top-25 finish of the season and second in his last two events.
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