For Immediate Release: October 23, 2000
Contact: Derek Smolik, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations

De Larrea Leads UT Pan American Men’s Golf on First Day of Louisiana Tech Invite.

CALHOUN, LA. – Santiago De Larrea shot a second round 73 to move into 18^th place, leading the way for the University of Texas-Pan American men’s golf team on the first day of the Louisiana Tech Invitational, held at the Pine Hills Country Club.

De Larrea, a sophomore from Sao Paulo, Brazil, shot a two-round total of 148 to put him in 18^th place overall, 11 strokes back of the leader, Brad Wright of Louisiana Tech.  However, De Larrea is just three strokes out of the top 10 and just four strokes out of the top five.  With a good final round De Larrea could have his best finish of the season.

James Aleman and Todd Grubert, playing in his first tournament of the season, are tied in 39^th place with two round totals of 153.  Stephen Slaughter is tied for 49^th place with a 155 and Ricky Benavides is tied for 51^st with a 156.

As a team the Broncs are in 11^th place with a two-round total of 609.  However the Broncs dropped 13 strokes off their first round total in the second round of the day and are within striking distance of several teams.  Tennessee-Chattanooga leads the tournament with a 584.  Louisiana-Monroe is in second with a 587, Jackson State is in third with a 591, Nicholls State in is fourth with a 592 and IUPUI is in fifth with a 596.  Within 10 strokes of the Broncs are Tennessee Tech (599), Louisiana Tech (602), Tulane (603), Samford (604) and New Orleans (604).

The Broncs will wrap up play at the Louisiana Tech Invitational on Tuesday morning with the final round at the Pine Hills Country Club.