La Mesilla, NM – Anthony Lara (Anthony, NM/Gadsden HS) led three other Mustangs finishing T2 in the opening round of the 2023 NM/WT Men's Golf Championship at Black Mesa Golf Course, near Santa Fe. Lara, a rising sophomore, posted an impressive 4-under-par 68 Monday, good enough for second place in the 64-player field. Lara's round was a wild one, featuring six birdies and an eagle around the stunning par 72 layout.

NMSU's Aiden Thomas led the field with a blemish-free 66 in the Amateur, which is essentially New Mexico's State Amateur Championship which includes golfers from El Paso. Thomas won the title in 2022.  

WNMU's Joey Geary (Phoenix, AZ/Sunnyslope HS) also made six birdies in the opening round, however he had a more interesting day. His final tally of 74 saw him make six bogeys and a double. Geary will return for his fifth year in August after leading the team in scoring for much of the Spring.

Oklahoma Christian's Alejandro Armijo matched Lara's 66 to get to T2 in the three-day, 54-hole event.

"Anthony and Joey had great offensive rounds today, making six birdies each," said WNMU Head Coach Kent Beatty. "Black Mesa is a very good golf course that is the ultimate risk reward course. It gives you room to play and ultimately score, but if you get if off the grass, it's also very penile," Beatty continued. "There are quite a few college golfers in the tournament so it's a great test to keep the boys in tournament shape and I'm sure they will clean up the bogeys over the next couple of days."

Other Mustangs in the event included Kyle Mahan (San Antonio, TX/Lady Bird Johnson HS) (82) and Seth Lackey (Hobbs, NM/Hobbs HS) (96).

The tournament concludes on Wednesday.

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