Tournament delivers history-making moments with two aces on the same hole, the same day in the same tournament and the first-ever Facebook Live broadcast of a PGA Section tournament with 24 hours of coverage across four days.
ELEPHANT BUTTE, N.M. (Sept. 17, 2025) — Aidan Thomas claimed victory at the 2025 Turtleback Mountain Golf & Resort New Mexico Open on Wednesday, September 17, capturing the championship and the largest purse in the tournament’s 71-year history. Competing in his first professional tournament, Thomas outlasted a field of 136 professionals and amateurs ( including PGA Tour pros Notah Begay III and Matt Every) to secure the title, edging past Jherad Hack, while Ryan Sullivan, AJ Crouch and Brian Stark tied for third.
The $100,000 purse, the largest in New Mexico Open history and among the Top 10 of all PGA sectional tournaments, was funded through sponsor contributions and financial support from Turtleback Mountain Golf & Resort. The professional champion received $20,000 and the tournament trophy, while the amateur winner, Javier Delgadillo, earned a $1,000 gift certificate to the resort’s pro shop and a trophy. The runner-up professional collected $12,500, with the remaining finalists taking home between $6,250 and $700, depending on placement.
The championship also produced what may be a never-before-achieved feat in professional golf tour history: Devin Miertschin and Jhared Hack each scored a hole-in-one on the same hole, on the same day, of the same tournament, during the final round. Such a moment is considered nearly unprecedented across the PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA of America sectional events and LIV Golf finals.
For the first time in PGA sectional tournament history, the New Mexico Open was streamed on Facebook Live, bringing four days of tournament action to viewers worldwide through a broadcast produced by Turtleback Mountain Golf & Resort. Coverage was hosted by Associated Press broadcast award-winning journalist Ian Roth of KTSM-TV, and ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM sports anchors Joe O’Neill and Robert Purdy. The stream ran from the Sept. 14 Pro-Am through the championship rounds on Sept. 15–17, delivering six hours of live programming each day (a total of 24 hours) with multiple on-course cameras, drone footage, commentary, player highlights and sponsor features. The broadcast gave fans unprecedented access to the competition while showcasing the scenic beauty of Sierra County, New Mexico.
About Turtleback Mountain Golf & Resort
Turtleback Mountain Golf & Resort, co-owned by PreReal Investments CEO James Prendamano and investor David Berman, is the host of the New Mexico Open. It has become southern New Mexico’s premier golf and lifestyle destination, offering championship golf, upscale residential living, and exceptional lifestyle amenities. Nestled in the scenic Rio Grande Valley, the resort’s 18-hole championship course challenges players of all levels while providing breathtaking desert views.
Beyond golf, the resort is expanding rapidly, with 1,300 planned home sites, a shaded driving range, and leading resort amenities including pickleball courts, tennis courts, a spa, a fitness center, and a tranquility garden. With a commitment to comfort, recreation, and community, Turtleback Mountain Golf & Resort is redefining what it means to live, play, and relax in the heart of southern New Mexico.
On March 25, 2025, the Governor of New Mexico, the Chairman of the Sierra County Commission, and the Mayor of Elephant Butte each issued official proclamations declaring the date Turtleback Mountain Golf & Resort Day across the state of New Mexico, recognizing the resort’s growing economic, cultural, and recreational importance to the region and its new prominence as a premier statewide destination. Visit: turtlebackmountaingolfandresort.com
About the New Mexico Open
Since 1954, the New Mexico Open has been a proving ground for some of the game’s greatest names, with past champions including Lee Trevino, Notah Begay III, and D.J. Brigman. In 2025, the tournament finds its new home at Turtleback Mountain Golf & Resort, a reimagined, championship-class venue in Elephant Butte, NM. The move not only elevates the level of play but also strengthens ties to the local community through expanded Pro-Am events, youth and military golf clinics, and economic development efforts. Visit https://suncountrygolf.com/new-mexico-open.
About Sun Country PGA Section
Founded in 1974, the Sun Country PGA Section is one of the 41 regional offices of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA). It serves 230+ PGA of America Golf Professionals and golf enthusiasts across New Mexico and El Paso County, TX through education, tournaments, and community engagement. The Section has been instrumental in developing names such as Notah Begay, Bart & Brad Bryant, Kent Jones, and Rich Beem. Through partnerships and its Sun Country PGA Junior Tour, the organization promotes youth golf while supporting veterans, underserved communities, and growing the game at every level. Visit https://suncountrygolf.com.
