Complete Results

El Paso, TX -- Western New Mexico's James Temple (Malahide, IRL/Malahide Community School) was a rock Monday as he held on to his first round lead to win the Cactus Thaw Invitational at Lonestar Golf Club in El Paso. Midland College (274-289) won the team event with Odessa College (286-283) finishing in the runner-up spot. The Mustangs were third, eight shots off the lead.

Temple shot a freshman record 65 (-6) in Monday's opening round and followed it up with a 72 (+1) on a cold and windy Monday. The win marked the first tournament win the school history for a first-year player.

The Mustangs shot rounds of 285-290 in 'the Thaw' and finished 16 shots ahead of UT-Permian Basin. Fort Lewis finished in tied for 5th place. 

"I'm extremely proud of the way James held his composure today. He got off to a bit of a shaky start, but fought back to retake the lead and was just a very tough young man coming down the stretch. He had a chance to lose it and he just refused ... very impressive," said Mustang Head Coach Kent Beatty. "As a team, we didn't have our best stuff in the first round and weren't able to help James much, but this event is a good preview to the conditions we'll see in San Antonio and Lubbock in our next two events," said Beatty.

Other WNMU scores included T9-Gonzalo Pan De Soraluce (Madrid, ES/Greg Norman Academy), 74-71--145; T18-Pedro De La Vega (Toluca, MX/Colegio Argos), 72-75--147; 20th-Sam Ruston (Birmingham, ENG/Chase Terrace Technology), 76-72--148; T-27 Harry O'Callaghan (Leeds, ENG/Priesthorpe HS), 74-77--151; T-27-Lucas Hechler (Playa Del Carmen, MX/Greg Norman Academy), 72-79--151; T27-Kailer Rundiks (Denver, CO/East HS), 76-75--151 and T35-Yong To Kim (Guatemala City, Guatemala/Colegio Han Al Americano) 78-76--154. 

The Mustangs get the nearly two weeks off before heading to San Antonio for the St. Mary's Invitational on February 23.