Bulldogs Sign Two Golfers For 2026 Class

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State added two new signees to the men's golf program on National Signing Day.

Head coach Dusty Smith and assistant coach Kyle Cornelius secured their 2026 class comprised of Yago Horno Mateo and Finn Burkholder.

Yago Horno Mateo | Spain

Yago Horno Mateo joins the Bulldogs as the No. 31 player in the Class of 2026, according to Golf Channel. He has reached as high as 319th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

He is one of the best junior golfers in his native Spain with victories at the Spanish Boys U18 Championship, International Spanish Match Play Championship, and International Spanish U18 Championship in 2025. He also took home the English Boys U16 Championship in 2024.

Horno Mateo placed runner-up at this year's Boys Amateur Championship and is currently ranked third in the Europe 18 and under rankings.

"We are thrilled to announce the signing of Yago Horno Mateo," Smith said. "He has shown the ability to win at every level and has worldwide experience. Being a member of the Spanish National Team, Yago knows how important team golf is and will dedicate everything to making Mississippi State golf the absolute best.

"One thing that stands out to me is Yago's ability to remain calm and his strong capability to adapt and score, regardless of where his game might be physically."

Finn Burkholder | The Woodlands, Tex.

Finn Burkholder comes to Starkville with an strong athletic prowess, having been a soccer goalkeeper for the Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Soccer Federation Development Academy.

He took home a victory on the AJGA Stan Utley Mid-America Youth Foundation Open in 2022 and notched top-10 finishes at the 2024 Scott Robertson Memorial, 2024 Granny Junior Invitational and the 2025 George Hannon Junior Invitational. He also placed inside the top 10 at prestigious amateur events such as the Texas Amateur, Mid-Atlantic Amateur, and the St. Augustine Amateur.

Burkholder competed in the 2023 U.S. Amateur and the 2025 Southern Amateur, in addition to three PGA Tour Monday qualifiers.

"Finn is going to be a great player for the Maroon and White," Smith said. "He is a powerful player that knows how to play the game at a very high level. What stands out to me about Finn is his relentless work ethic and his love for the game. He truly wants to be the best player in the world, and that mentality will help him and this golf program reach new heights."

For more information on the Bulldog golf program, follow on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram by searching "HailStateMG."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Bulldogs Sign Two Golfers For 2026 Class

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