For Immediate Release: Friday, May 2, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS 1ST, BRONCS 4TH AFTER 1ST DAY AT NATIONAL MINORITY


PORT ST. LUCIE, FL-The University of Texas-Pan American women's golf team is in first place, while the men's team is in fourth place after the first round of the National Minority College Golf Championships at the PGA Golf Club's North Course.

The Lady Broncs shot a first round score of 326, leaving them two strokes ahead of the only other team in the women's division, Bethune-Cookman. The Broncs' score of 296 left them three strokes behind Tennessee State in the nine-team field. Bethune-Cookman is in first place at 283, one stroke ahead of Florida A&M. Trailing the Broncs are South Carolina State at 297, Texas Southern at 306, Alcorn State at 313, Hampton at 317, and Alabama State at 327.

Freshman Stefanie Maynard (Pflugerville, TX/Pflugerville HS) led Texas-Pan American, shooting a first-round 75, and is in second place, one stroke off the lead. Freshman Daniela Cortes (Aguascalientes, Mexico/Colegio Portal) shot a score of 81 and is third, junior Crystal Frazier (Coolidge, TX (Wortham HS) shot an 84 and is seventh, freshman Nikki Boychuk (Conroe, TX/Willis HS) shot an 86 and is 11th, and junior Christina Infante (Lyford, TX/Lyford HS) shot a 92 and is in 11th place.

Junior Rudy Celedon (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North HS) led the Broncs with a 69, tying him for third. Juniors Ben Piper (Lubbock, TX/Coronado HS) and Paul Manganilla (Carrollton, TX/Newman Smith HS/Navarro College) each shot 75, and are tied for 20th, and freshman Craig Berger (Wetaskiwin, AB/Wetaskiwin Composite HS) and junior John Huerta (Alice, TX/Alice HS) each shot 77 and are tied for 29th.

"Stefanie played pretty well, but we weren't thrilled with our round as a team," said UTPA Head Women's Coach Barb Odale. "Stefanie made an eagle (two on a par four) at number 15. She popped up her drive, and knocked in her second shot from 170 yards. I was pleased that we were in first, but I was disappointed in our score. Hopefully, we'll play better tomorrow."

"We had a decent round, it could have been a little better," said UTPA Head Men's Coach Mark Gaynor. "The other teams have some experience on this course. Hopefully, we have some experience, and we'll have better scores tomorrow."

The tournament will continue Saturday and conclude Sunday.

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