KERRVILLE – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's golf team defended their title and senior Javier Neira Garcia came away with the individual title on Monday to close out The Big Texan at Riverhill Country Club. 
 
UTRGV entered the day with a three-shot lead over Tarleton State but used a final round 11-under par 277, which is tied for the sixth lowest individual round team score in program history, to run away with the win with a three-round score of 10-under par 854, which is the seventh lowest three-round score in program history.
 
The Vaqueros finished 11 strokes ahead of Abilene Christian and 12 strokes ahead of Tarleton State. 
 
Garcia started four shots behind the lead but used a final round eight-under par 64 to finish with a three-round score of 205 and the four-stroke victory becoming UTRGV's first individual winner since Henry Fisher (2016-20) won the Gulf Coast Intercollegiate in the spring of 2020. Garcia went five-under on the front nine with five birdies and four pars and then posted a three-under 33 in the back nine with two birdies, an eagel, five pars and a bogey.
 
Garcia's final round 64 ties the program record for the individual single round score with Alvaro Hernandez (2017-19) that was set at the 2019 Border Olympics. Garcia's three-round score of 205 is the third lowest individual three-round score in program history and is one shy of the program record of 204 held by Armen Kirakossian (2006-10) and Manuel Inman (1998-99).
 
Redshirt junior Taj Sutherland finished tied for fifth with a three-round score of 213 after posting a final round one-under par 71. Junior Juan Luis de Bethencourt Duque finished tied for 20^th with a three-round score of 219 after turning in a final round 77. 
 
Freshman Emilio Gil Leyva finished tied for 24^th with a three-round score of 220 as he posted a final round four-under par 68. Gil Leyva posted a three-under 33 in the front nine with three birdies and six pars while posting a one-under 35 on the back nine with three birdies, four pars, and two bogeys. 
 
Freshman and McAllen Memorial alum Esteban Gonzalez finished tied for 56^th with a three-round score of 227 after posting a final round two-over par 74. Freshman Eddie Lai, who played as an individual, finished in 81^st with a three-round score of 238 after a final round 76. 
 
The Vaqueros will be back in action from April 15-16 at the University of Northern Colorado Spring Invite at Raindance National Resort. 
 
Results

Place	Golfer	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Total
1.	Javier Neira Garcia	69	72	64	205
T-5.	Taj Sutherland	73	69	71	213
T-20.	Juan Luis De Bethencourt Duque	68	74	77	219
T-24.	Emilio Gil Leyva	75	77	68	220
T-56.	Esteban Gonzalez	75	78	74	227
81.	Eddie Lai*	80	82	76	238

*Competing as an individual
                                                                                          

Place	Team	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Total
1.	UTRGV	285	292	277	854
2.	Abilene Christian	293	299	273	865
3.	Tarleton State	286	294	286	866
4.	Seton Hall	292	301	285	878
T-5.	New Orleans	288	304	290	882
T-5.	Midland CC	295	294	293	882
T-5.	New Mexico JC	294	300	288	882
T-8.	Incarnate Word	294	298	292	884
T-8.	Weber State	291	294	299	884
T-8.	Ranger College	301	300	283	884
11.	Southeastern Louisiana	297	304	285	886
12.	Houston Christian	297	302	289	888
13.	Stephen F. Austin	298	304	290	892
14.	Western Illinois	315	305	303	923
15.	Texas A&M-Commerce	305	323	309	937

Support UTRGV Men's Golf | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube