For Immediate Release: Saturday, May 3, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

CELEDON LEADS, WOMEN TIED FOR 1ST, MEN TIED FOR 3RD AT NMGC

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL-The University of Texas-Pan American women's golf team is tied for first place, the men's team is tied for third and a Bronc golfer is in the lead after the second round of the National Minority College Golf Championships at the PGA Golf Club's North Course.

Junior Rudy Celedon (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North HS) is in first place after 36 holes. He shot a 69 Saturday, and his 36-hole score of 138 has him in first place by a stroke over Jay Sandhu of Florida A&M.

The Lady Broncs shot a second round score of 323 for a 36-hole total of 649, leaving them tied with the only other team in the women's division, Bethune-Cookman. The Broncs' score of 294 left them tied with Tennessee State in the nine-team field. Florida A&M is in first place at 569, two strokes ahead of Bethune-Cookman. Trailing the Broncs are South Carolina State at 592, Alcorn State at 616, Texas Southern at 618, Alabama State at 635, and Hampton at 651.

Freshman Stefanie Maynard (Pflugerville, TX/Pflugerville HS) led Texas-Pan American, shooting a second-round 77 for a 36-hole total of 152, and is in second place, four strokes off the lead. Freshman Nikki Boychuk (Conroe, TX/Willis HS) shot a 77 for 163 and is tied for fourth, junior Crystal Frazier (Coolidge, TX (Wortham HS) shot an 81 for 165 and is tied for seventh, freshman Daniela Cortes (Aguascalientes, Mexico/Colegio Portal) shot an 89 for 170 and is 10th, and junior Christina Infante (Lyford, TX/Lyford HS) shot a 88 for 180 and is 12th.

Celedon was followed by junior Paul Manganilla (Carrollton, TX/Newman Smith HS/Navarro College), who shot a 72 for 147 and is tied for 12th. Freshman Craig Berger (Wetaskiwin, AB/Wetaskiwin Composite HS) shot a 75 for 152 and is tied for 22nd, junior Ben Piper (Lubbock, TX/Coronado HS) shot a 78 for 153 and is tied for 24th, and junior John Huerta (Alice, TX/Alice HS) shot an 82 for 159 and is tied for 34th.

"Tomorrow should be a good test for us, since we have such a young team," said UTPA Head Women's Coach Barb Odale. "I think the tournament will be decided between our third, fourth and fifth players. Stefanie and Nikki played well today, and we're looking forward to competing for the championship."

"Rudy played well," said UTPA Head Men's Coach Mark Gaynor. "This would be a prestigious tournament for him to win. It's going to be difficult for us to finish first or second, since Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman are playing very well, but we need to play well to make sure we finish no worse than third. We need to step it up a notch tomorrow."

The tournament will conclude Sunday.

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