Lefevre Wins IPS New Mexico Open

By Luke Montalbano

HOBBS, N.M – Before today, an amateur has not won the New Mexico Open since 1968.  However, that changed today as Matthis Lefevre won the IPS New Mexico Open as an amateur.

“It means a lot,” Lefevre said.  “It’s such a big accomplishment for me to do that and I am very proud of this.”

Lefevre began the week shooting a 64 in the first round.  In the second round, he started even par on the front nine, but went three-under on the back, including birdies on 17 and 18.  Today, he matched the course record by shooting a nine-under 62 to win by one stroke over professionals Blake Abercrombie and Logan McCracken.  

“I just wanted to do the same thing,” Matthis said when reflecting on round two.  “Just trust the process, trust what I do, all the hours I spend practicing.  I know that if I stay calm and if I stay positive, everything will be alright.”

Lefevre started the day five strokes back of McCracken.  McCracken was playing in the group behind Lefevre and did not know what was going on in that group.   He said he was not following the leaderboard online.

“I knew I was leading when my friends came to see me on number 12.”  Lefevre said.  “I made a birdie on 12 and so they told me that I had a two-shot lead.  And that moment I started thinking about the victory.”

Shortly after that, Lefevre would eagle the par-five 14^th and birdie 18 to secure the victory.

Lefevre calls Rockwind Community Links his home course playing for the New Mexico Junior College golf team.

“It’s great because I know the course,” Lefevre said.  “I know the greens as well.  It was a bit tougher because the greens were quicker, a little firm.  But it definitely helped me for this tournament to know this course.

Lefevre calls France his home and goes to New Mexico Junior College a few miles from Rockwind.  Next year, Lefevre will transfer to TCU to play on their golf team.

This is the first year that the New Mexico Open took place at Rockwind.  The Sun Country PGA ran a pro-am the day before the first round to raise funds for the Sun Country Golf Foundation and the First Tee of Southeastern New Mexico.  Later that day, the Section and the First Tee ran a junior clinic in order to help promote the game of golf to the region.  Lefevre was one of the instructors volunteering his time at the junior clinic.

The Sun Country PGA thanks title partner IPS, supporting partners Legacy Pipeline and Legacy Safety & Consulting, Rockwind Community Links, and the Hobbs community for their support for the event. 

The Sun Country Section PGA was established in 1974 as one of the 41 Sections that make up the Professional Golfers Association of America. The Section (the state of New Mexico and El Paso County, Texas) currently has over 200 Members and Associates.  The mission of the Sun Country Section PGA is to promote participation and enjoyment in the game of golf for all levels of golfers. The Section is a leader in junior golf with a well-established Junior Tour