Albuquerque amateur Jackson Funkhouser wins New Mexico Open by seven

Jackson Funkhouser won the New Mexico Open by seven strokes Tuesday at Turtleback Mountain Golf Course & Resort, capping the tournament at 23-under par as an amateur. The Albuquerque native, a junior at New Mexico State, finished with rounds of 65, 61 and 67 to claim the championship.

Funkhouser followed a course-record 11-under-par 61 in Tuesday’s second round with a 5-under 67 in the final round. He carded seven birdies and two bogeys in the final round to finish at 193.

“It was definitely a great opportunity to be here, and I definitely didn’t think that I was going to win coming into it,” Funkhouser said. “I just tried to play the best that I could and just to see what happens, and I guess good things happened.”

Just one year ago, Funkhouser missed the cut at the New Mexico Open.

Ryan Sullivan of North Carolina finished second at 16-under par. Reigning champion Aidan Thomas, a New Mexico State alum, shot a 5-under 67 in the final round to finish tied for third at 14-under par alongside Blake Tomlinson.

Because Funkhouser entered and won as an amateur, Sullivan received the $30,000 first-place prize.