Delgadillo and Payán earn First Team All-CUSA recognition
NM State golfers Javier Delgadillo and Mateo Payán earned First Team All-Conference USA honors after standout seasons that helped lead the Aggies through the 2026 campaign.
NM State the only program with multiple first team selections
Michael Navarrette, New Mexico State Athletics
DALLAS - NM State men's golfers Javier Delgadillo and Mateo Payán each were named First Team All-Conference USA, the league announced on Friday afternoon. With two honorees represented on the first team, NM State serves as the only program to have multiple first team award winners this year.
Delgadillo, a native of El Paso, Texas, turned in a strong senior campaign and capped it off by winning the individual title at the 2026 Conference USA Championship to earn an automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Marana Regional at The Gallery Golf Club. This year, Delgadillo was one of three Aggies to compete in all 30 rounds for the Aggies as he submitted one top-10 finish and three top-25 placements.
In total, he posted five rounds in the 60s this season, including shooting a 66 and a 68 in the second and third rounds of the CUSA Championship, respectively. His win at the CUSA Championship marked the seventh top-10 finish of his career.
Payán, a native of Cali, Colombia, was arguably the most consistent Aggie this season as he finished as the low competitor for the Crimson and White in six of the team's 10 tournaments in 2026. Like Delgadillo, Payán was one of just three Aggies to be in the lineup for every event NM State participated in this season.
The sophomore finished inside the top 10 three times this season, including placing tied for fifth at both the Whirlwind Invitational and the Louisiana Classics Invite. He also shot four under at the Mossy Oak Collegiate to finish the tournament in a tie for seventh. In total, Payán carded a team-high seven rounds in the 60s.
2026 Conference USA Men's Golf Superlative Awards
Player of the Year: Dylan Teeter, UTEP
Freshman of the Year: Silas Haarer, Liberty
Coach of the Year: Aaron Puetz, UTEP
First Team All-Conference
Shaun Cook, Kennesaw State
Michael Lugiano, Liberty
Carter Maneth, MTSU
Javier Delgadillo, NM State
Mateo Payan, NM State
Dylan Teeter, UTEP
Second Team All-Conference
Arsit Areephun, Delaware
Kyle Bachkosky, Kennesaw State
Ike Joy, Liberty
Josh Ryan, Liberty
Alex Malanga, Sam Houston
Third Team All-Conference
Stanley Campbell, Jax State
Ryley Heath, Jax State
Hunter Gillard, Kennesaw State
Silas Haarar, Liberty
Pat Foley, UTEP
All-Freshman Team
Will Drake, Jax State
Tyler Neidel, Jax State
Silas Haarer, Liberty
Grayson Petru, Sam Houston
Will Easterlin, WKU
For complete coverage of NM State Men's Golf, follow the team on X (@NMStateMGolf), Instagram (@NMStateMGolf) and Facebook (NM State Men's Golf). You can also follow along with Aggie Men's Golf via NMStateSports.com.
Michael Navarrette is Assistant Athletic Director of Media Relations for New Mexico State University. He can be reached at micnav@nmsu.edu.
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