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For Immediate
Release: Thursday, February 13, 2003 LADY BRONCS SET TO HOST BRONC INTERCOLLEGIATE CLASSIC EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American women's golf team will open their spring season on Monday, when they host the Bronc Intercollegiate Classic. The tournament field will include three teams from the Southland Conference, and the top-ranked school in the NCAA's Division II, along with the host Lady Broncs. "We want to win the tournament," said UTPA Head Coach Barb Odale. "If we play well, we can win it." Lamar is currently ranked 122nd by Golfweek, while Southwest Texas State and McNeese are 124th and 161st, respectively. The Lady Broncs are rated 156th, while St. Mary's is first in Division II. "Lamar and Southwest Texas are the highest ranked teams that will be in the tournament," said Odale. "If we want to win, those are the teams that we'll need to beat." Last spring, Southwest Texas State became the first-ever women's golf champions of the Southland Conference, and finished in the top 10 in two other tournaments. Lamar placed third at the SLC Championships. St. Mary's was the Heartland Conference champion last season, and finished second in two other tournaments. The classic represents the Lady Broncs' first action since early October. The last two tournaments of the fall season were cancelled due to inclement weather. "I think we are really ready to compete," said Odale. "We haven't competed since October. We are hungry and really ready to play." The familiar surroundings of the Los Lagos Golf Club could benefit Texas-Pan American in its bid to upset some of the higher-ranked teams. The Lady Broncs practice on the course, and have become familiar with how it is set up. "The course has a very difficult layout," said Odale. "We plan on putting the flags in difficult positions, which hopefully will work to our advantage." The Texas-Pan American women's golf team will return to action when they travel to Huntsville, TX for the Waterwood National Invitational hosted by Sam Houston State on March 10th and 11th.
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