West Texas A&M University Men's Golf

Axel Ochoa was named the eighth head coach in West Texas A&M Men's Golf history on January 31, 2020. 2023-24 was the most successful season in WT Men's Golf history as the Buffs advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships for the second time in school history following a fourth place finish at the NCAA South Central/West Regional Championships in Las Cruces. WT tied for seventh during the stroke play portion of the National Championships to advance to medal match play, the Buffs took down top-seeded West Florida in the quarterfinals before falling to fifth-seeded North Georgia in the semifinals by a stroke. Freshman Wyatt Provence made history as the Randall High School alum won the NCAA Division II National Championship by five strokes, firing a 201 (-12), the lowest three-round score in Division II Championship history. Provence claimed the 2024 Arnold Palmer National Individual Champion Award while also being named a First Team PING All-American to go along with claiming the 2024 NCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award. The Buffs registered another big season under Ochoa during the 2023-24 campaign as they advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central/West Regional Championship for a second consecutive season, marking the first back-to-back trips by the Buffs in program history.  The 2021-22 campaign saw the Buffs climb to new heights as they qualified for the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Postseason for the first time since 2015. The Buffs finished in the Top-5 as a team during five different tournaments during the season highlighted by a victory in the Ryan Palmer Foundation Invitational at Amarillo Country Club, picking up the fourth event crown in program history and the first since the 2004-05 campaign. Ochoa came to Canyon from Allendale, Michigan where he spent two and a half seasons as the women’s golf assistant at Grand Valley State. The Lakers claimed a pair of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships (2018, 2019) with two trips to the NCAA Division II National Championships including a ninth-place finish at Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston back in 2018.   Prior to his time in Allendale, Ochoa founded a company to assist colleges and universities identify and recruit international student-athletes to the United States. He helped guide these students through the entire recruiting process, from initial exposure to coaches to securing scholarship offers through the visa process and ultimate matriculation to U.S.-based institutions.   The Buenos Aires, Argentina native registered a standout collegiate career at Oklahoma Christian where he was a four-time NAIA All-American while leading the Eagles to a pair of NAIA National Championships in 2009 and 2011. He was the National Runner-Up to teammate Oscar Stark during his senior campaign in 2011 while finishing his career with four individual event titles. Ochoa still holds the lowest single-round for the Eagles, firing a 63 (-8) during the 2010 SHSU Harold Funston Invitational as he ranks eighth on OC’s all-time career scoring list (73.1) over 120 rounds during his time in Edmond.   Ochoa received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from OC in 2011, following his collegiate career Axel played on the NGA Pro Golf Tour for one season. Ochoa and his wife, Jenna, are the proud parents of three daughters: Josie, Sunny and Emmie.

Moore begins his first year as head men's golf coach at West Texas A&M.  Moore came to WT from Our Lady of the Lake University as he replaces Brad Borden who resigned to pursue other opportunities in April.   It is really exciting to be hired by West Texas A&M, Moore said.   I played against WT in college and it is a really good opportunity to continue to build on the program Brad has built.  My ultimate goal is to win a national championship at WT and, with the resources I will have there, I dont think it will take very long to get to that point.  With the number of talented players we have returning, and I plan on adding a couple more guys to the roster before the fall, we well be in good shape heading into next season.   Moore finished his fifth season as head coach of the Saints mens golf program.  Under his guidance, the Saints will make their third consecutive appearance in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Mens Golf Championship, May 14-17 in Salem, Ore.  The Saints are ranked No. 7 in the final NAIA Mens Golf Coaches Poll and received one of six at-large bids to the championship.     Last season, Moore guided OLLU to its second straight appearance in the National Championship Tournament, where the Saints finished in a tie for seventh.  The team finished eighth nationally which was the best ranking in school history.    In 2010-11, Moore put the Saints on the national map with the schools first entry into the national championships as it earned an at-large bid.  Moore also was named Red River Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for the second straight season.   The Owasso, Okla., native, had a successful collegiate career as he earned all-America honors as a junior and senior at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla.  While there, Northeastern State experienced one of the greatest stretches of team golf at the school, including participating in the NCAA Finals in 2004.    Eric has shown that he has the ability to deliver a nationally competitive golf program with teams that also do exceptionally well in the classroom, McBroom said.  His reputation as an outstanding player in the LSC has been enhanced by the coaching he has done at Our Lady of the Lakes.  I truly believe we have a great one in Eric.  He and his family will be super additions to our WT family and to the local golf community.   He received his bachelors degree in business administration with an emphasis on meetings and destinations management in 2005 and received his masters degree in health and kinesiology in 2007.   Moore was an assistant golf coach at Northeastern State from 2004-2008, and is quite familiar with the Lone Star Conference.  During his time at NSU, he helped coach the team to three consecutive Lone Star Conference Championships and the womans program to a Lone Star Conference title in 2006.   He and his wife Alli are the proud parents of a daughter and son.