For Immediate Release: May 12, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations (956) 381-2240

BRONCS 1^ST, LADY BRONCS 2ND AT NATIONAL MINORITY CHAMPIONSHIPS   

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL –For the first time, The University of Texas-Pan American’s men’s golf team has won a national tournament.

The Broncs overcame a five-shot deficit by shooting a final-round 292 and finished first in the eight-team Division I field at the 16^th Annual National Minority College Golf Championships, at the Professional Golfers Association Club’s North Course Sunday afternoon.

UTPA finished with a 54-hole total of 892, seven strokes ahead of the second round leader, Florida A&M, which was second with a score of 899. Tennessee State was next at 907, followed by Bethune-Cookman at 909, South Carolina State at 925, Texas Southern at 946, Alabama State at 999 and Hampton at 1039.

The Lady Broncs finished second in the two-team women’s division. They shot a final round score of 336 and finished at 987. Bethune-Cookman won the women’s title, shooting a score of 325 on the final day for a total of 967.

Senior Santiago DeLarrea (Victoria, Spain/Colegio Miguel de Cervantes) made his final collegiate tournament e memorable one. He shot a final round score of 69. It was his lowest round as a Bronc, and gave him a three-day total of 220, good for second place, three strokes behind the medallist, Jason Owens of FAMU. Sophomore Rudy Celedon (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North HS) shot a final-round 75, good for a three-day total of 221, tying him for third place. Sophomore Ben Piper (Lubbock, TX/Coronado HS) shot a 75, good for a total of 224 and a tie for seventh place. Junior Omar Halldorsson (Akureyri, Iceland/Schola Aknreyrensis) shot a 73 on the final day of action, good for a score of 227 and 11^th place overall. Freshman John Huerta (Alice, TX/Alice HS) shot an 82 on the final day, good for a 54-hole total of 239 and 25^th place.  

“It was great to see the guys come back the way they did,” said UTPA Head Coach Mark Gaynor. “I think that we realized that we could win, so everyone stepped it up a bit today. It’s great to win a national tournament, it’s very well-run, it’s a great way to end the year, and it sets the stage for our guys for the summer and the fall. Going into the final round in second place is a great learning experience. I know that (Lady Bronc Head Coach) Barb (Odale) was disappointed, but when you go into the final round in second place, you’re going to improve as a team no matter what happens.”

"I couldn't have asked for a better way to end my college career," said DeLarrea. "I am so thankful for my school to give me the opportunity to play in this championship."

Sophomore Crystal Frazier (Coolidge, TX/Wortham HS) shot a final round score of 87, for a 54-hole total of 241 and third place overall. Sophomore Itziar Unanue (Apodaca, Mexico/Colegio San Patricio) shot a 78, good for 242 and fourth place. Freshman Chistine Treanor (Bulverde, TX/Smithson Valley HS) shot an 87, good for 249 and sixth place. Senior Adriana Espinoza (Laredo, TX/Wortham HS) shot an 84, good for 25 and eighth place, and junior Christina Infante (Lyford, TX/Lyford HS) finished tenth after shooting a final round 111 and a three-day total of 324.

Both the Broncs and Lady Broncs concluded their seasons with this tournament..

UTPA RESULTS

MEN

Santiago DeLarrea            75-76-69-220, 2^nd
Rudy Celedon                   69-77-75-221, tied for 3^rd
Ben Piper                          77-72-75-224, tied for 7^th
Omar Halldorsson             76-78-73-227, 11^th
John Huerta                      79-78-82-239, tied for 25^th

WOMEN

 Crystal Frazier                  79-75-87-241, 3^rd
 Itziar Unanue                    82-82-78-242, 4^th
 Christine Treanor              80-82-87-249, 6^th
 Adriana Espinoza              82-89-84-255, 8^th
 Christina Infante               102-111-111-324, 10^th

MWGMINORITY051202