Feb. 4, 2008

After day one at the Jack Brown Memorial Tournament the Lady Broncs and the Broncs are currently riding in first place and look to keep the momentum going in the second day.

Mariale Camey (Cuidad, Guatemala/University of New Orleans) leads the way for the Lady Broncs finished with a 74 (36-38) en route to a first place showing after 18-holes of tournament action.

Bronwyn Sandberg (St. Albert, Alberta, Canada/ Bellerose Composite) was not far behind, collecting a one-round score of 79 (42-37) for a third place finish while newcomer Haley Hocott (San Antonio, TX/MacArthur H.S.) is currently tied for fourth after posting a 18-hole score of 80 (40-40).

Mission native, Rebecca De Leon (Mission, TX/Veterans Memorial H.S.) finished tied for sixth overall with a one-round score of 82 (42-40) while Sara Maria Garcia (Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico/Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School) recorded a 82 (38-44) en route to tying for sixth overall.

UTPA holds the team lead after one round of competition with a team score of 315 while St. Mary's (343), UT-Brownsville (354), Dallas Baptist (359) and Incarnate Word (362) round off the top five.

"I think the girls did a good job of fighting, however the team as a whole never being satisfied, we know we can do much better," said head men's and women's golf coach Ofelia Lopez. "Our team motto tomorrow is take it to the house."

The Broncs are also on their way to a tournament title, collecting a two-round team score of 578.

In first place for the Broncs is Shane Pearce (Carrollton, TX/Hebron H.S.), who finished with a two-round score of 141 (76-75) while Armen Kirakossian (Portland, OR/Wilson H.S.) posted a 36-hole score of 144 (74-70) en route to tying for fourth overall.

Newcomer A.J. Gonzalez is riding in seventh place with a two-round score of 147 (73-74) while Jeff Hensley (Van Horn, TX/ Van Horn H.S.) is tied for eight after posting a 36-hole score of 148 (79-69) and Tim Acaster (North Battleford, SK/Saskatchewan Provincial H.S) rounds off the Broncs tying for 20th overall with a two-round score of 156 (77-79).

The Broncs hold the team lead after two-rounds of competition with a team score of 578 while St. Mary's (589), Texas A&M International (592), Incarnate Word (609) and Dallas Baptist (616) round off the top five.

The Jack Brown Memorial Tournament marks the first tournament of the spring season for both golf programs and the first for newly-named assistant men's golf coach Tim McCabe.

"After having a shaking first round, the men came back, fought hard and played well. They were mentally strong and shot ten under as a team and Tim and I are very proud of them," added Lopez.

The Lady Broncs and Broncs will play the final day of the tournament tomorrow morning with tee off slated for 8 a.m. at the Laredo Country Club.

UTPA Sports Information