For Immediate Release: Thursday, July
31, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240
LADY BRONCS SET CHALLENGING SCHEDULE FOR 2003-04
EDINBURG, TX-A challenging schedule is set for The University of Texas-Pan American women's golf team this season.
The Lady Broncs will participate in nine tournaments, including the Bronc Intercollegiate Classic at the Club at Cimarron in Mission, and will have the chance to defend their championship at the National Minority Golf Championships in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
"I really like our schedule this year," said UTPA Head Coach Barb Odale. "We have some tournaments that feature more Southland Conference opponents, tournaments that feature schools from the north and from the Midwest, and tournaments that feature a lot of Big 12 and Big 10 schools. It's a very good mix."
Texas-Pan American will host the Bronc Intercollegiate Classic at the Club at Cimarron in Mission when they begin second semester action February 23rd and 24th, 2004. Southern Illinois, Lamar and Southwest Texas State are among the teams expected to be in the field.
"The Club at Cimarron is one of the best courses in the Rio Grande Valley," said Odale. "At one point, they hosted tournaments that were part of the prep tour for the PGA. We should have a good field, and we'll be trying to gear up and win the tournament."
As defending champs, the Lady Broncs will receive an automatic invitation to the National Minority Golf Championships. "Since we're the defending champions, we can count on going," said Odale. "We don't have to worry about being invited."
UTPA will head for the Virgin Islands during spring break. Xavier will host a tournament in St. Croix, and the Lady Broncs will participate. "It's a new tournament," said Odale. "It will be a regular collegiate golf tournament that is played in the Virgin Islands."
Texas-Pan American will play four fall tournaments, traveling to Southwest Texas State, Notre Dame, Oral Roberts and Sam Houston State.
"We have four good tournaments in the fall," said Odale. "I'm glad we're opening up at Southwest Texas. With a fairly young team, it will be good for us to open up with a tournament that is in Texas, and is only 36 holes. The following week, we go to Notre Dame. It's a good tournament, but with this year's team, I'm hoping we can be in the hunt to win it. Oral Roberts has a really good team. They went to regionals last year, and, this year, the tournament had a really good field, and it's at a resort."
The Lady Broncs will play at the Baylor/Tapatio Springs Shootout and the Arkansas-Little Rock Invitational in the spring. Both the UTPA men's and women's teams will travel to the UALR Invitational.
WG-24-03073103