LAS CRUCES – The 'Cats kicked off the 2024 NCAA DII Super Regional at the University of New Mexico's Golf Course Thursday, grabbing hold of seventh as they vaulted themselves in a good position for moving up on the second day.
The hosting Mustangs of Western New Mexico hold a resounding lead at 277 (-7), with Oklahoma Christain behind in second, carding a 281 (-3). Cal State Monterey Bay and Chico State hold the highest team positions of the west region, with the Otters tied for fifth through eighteen holes.
A slow start from Tyler Ashman was eclipsed by an impressive back nine that saw the senior carding four birdies on his way to a 70 (-1) first-round score. Ashman sits in a tie for 12th on the leaderboard.
Travis Miller continued his consistency from the conference tournament, rounding out the first day with a 71 even par, hoisting him into a tie for 19th on the leaderboard.
In his first NCAA regional tournament, Freshman Alexander LemMon is finding his footing on the course, carding a 74 (+3). LemMon showed great promise at the conference, and Las Cruces is only his third outing for the Wildcats for the season, and he has plenty of shots left to climb.
Dakota Ochoa carded a 75 (+4) in the first round; the senior showed his ability to center himself across the long days and focus on each shot regardless of the result of the last. Ochoa's strong back nine, penciling in an eagle on the 15th hole and two birdies, kept him in a reasonable position for the second day.
Naoki Easterday finished the day with a 77 (6+) in New Mexico.
There is plenty of golf to be played, and the south-central region is currently dominating the leaderboards, with six of the top ten teams hailing from the RMAC or Lone Star Conference—five of those teams are congesting the top five spots.
Day two of the NCAA DII Super Regional kicks off bright and early for the 'Cats as they head into the second set of holes paired with the Otters and Thundercats of Colorado Christian in the first groups of the day. Dakota Ochoa will join the opening group at 6:30 a.m. (PST), make sure to stay up to date through Golfstat as the 'Cats make more moves on Friday.
