MCALLEN – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's golf team put together a strong showing on the first day of the 2023 UTRGV Invitational as they sit in second place on Monday at McAllen Country Club. 
 
The Vaqueros posted their best rounds of the season as they opened with a team score of 290 before coming back in the second round with a 289, which is the second lowest single team round in program history. The 290 is the third lowest single team round in program history.
 
UTRGV's two-round total of 579 puts them 12 shots back of Houston Christian for first place and has them 13 shots ahead of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. 
 
The Vaqueros has two currently in the top-five as senior and Brownsville Veterans alum Julie Lucio sits in fourth place and junior Mercedes Vega is one shot behind her in fifth place. Lucio opened with an even par 71 and then went and posted a one-under par 70 in the second round for a two-round total of 141. Vega posted back-to-back rounds of 71 for a two-round total of 142. 
 
Lucio is just four shots back of Houston Christian's Elise Parel and Alejandra Ferrer, who are tied for first with a two-round score of 137.
 
Sophomore Maria Jose Ramirez is tied for 12^th place with a two-round total of 148 after posting a first round 75 and then improving in the second round with a two-over par 73. Junior Sophia Tejeda is in 21^st with a two-round total of 150 after back-to-back rounds of 75. Junior Samantha Garza is tied for 24^th with a two-round total of 152 after an opening round of two-over par 73 and a second round 79. 
 
Freshman Jackie Howard Gonzalez, who is playing as an individual, is tied for 15^th with a two-round total of 149 after posting an opening round 75 and a second round 74. Sophomore Catherine Flores is tied for 45^th with a two-round total of 158 after rounds of 76 and 82 while sophomore and Edinburg High alum Madi Ozuna is tied for 76^th with a two-round total of 174 with rounds of 86 and 88. 
 
The Vaqueros will be back on the course on Tuesday for the final round of the 2023 UTRGV Invitational with a shotgun start at 8:15 a.m.
 
Results

Place	Golfer	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Total
4.	Julie Lucio	71	70	-	141
5.	Mercedes Vega	71	71	-	142
T-12.	Maria Jose Ramirez	75	73	-	148
21.	Sophia Tejeda	75	75	-	150
T-24.	Samantha Garza	73	79	-	152
T-15.	Jackie Howard Gonzalez*	75	74	-	149
T-45.	Catherine Flores*	76	82	-	158
T-76.	Madi Ozuna*	86	88	-	174

Playing as individual*
 

Place	Team	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Total
1.	Houston Christian	282	285	-	567
2.	UTRGV	290	289	-	579
3.	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	298	294	-	592
4.	Lamar	301	295	-	596
5.	Creighton	297	303	-	600
6.	Drake	299	310	-	609
7.	UIC	309	306	-	615
8.	Texas A&M-Kingsville	306	315	-	621
9.	Texas Southern	319	307	-	626
10.	Northern Iowa	312	316	-	628
11.	Omaha	322	307	-	629
12.	Indiana State	315	320	-	635
13.	Stephen F. Austin	318	322	-	640
14.	Prairie View A&M	326	323	-	649

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