RIO GRANDE VALLEY– The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's golf team battled to defeat the Abilene Christian University (ACU) Wildcats 3.5 to 1.5 to win the South Texas Match Play title on Tuesday at McAllen Country Club. 
 
Junior Luis Limón got the Vaqueros on the board with a dominating 3&2 victory over Gregoire Hoyeau as he didn't trail the entire match. The Wildcats tied it with a win from Jack Hollingsed over fifth year senior Taj Sutherland. 
 
Sophomore Emilio Gil Leyva gave the Vaqueros the 2-1 lead with a 2 up win over Preston DeFriend as he too never trailed in his match. 
 
Junior Arthit Kruaprayong and Colin Leonard went back-and-forth in their match. Leonard went up 2 through the first four holes but Krauprayong won the next two to even the match. Leonard held the 1 up advantage going into the 16^thhole, but Krauaprayong birdied the 16^th and 17^th to take the lead before seeing his match end in a tie. 
 
With the score 2.5 to 1.5, it all came down to the final match between sophomore McAllen Memorial alum Esteban Gonzalez and Jaime Lewis, who held a 2 up advantage going into the back nine. Gonzalez eagled the par five 11^th to get within one and then the match went all square after a bogey by Lewis on the par 3 13^th. 
 
Lewis regained the advantage after a bogey by Gonzalez on the 14^th, but Lewis gave it right back with a bogey on the 16^th. Gonzalez answered back with a birdie on the par 17^th and drained a par putt on the 18^th to seal the victory for the Vaqueros. 
 
The Vaqueros will be back in action from March 17-18 at the All-American Intercollegiate in Houston. 
 
Results
Round 1
UTRGV 3.5, Abilene Christian 1.5
Jack Hollingsed (ACU) def. Taj Sutherland (UTRGV) 1 Up
Luis Limón (UTRGV) def. Gregoire Hoyeau (ACU) 3 & 2
Emilio Gil Leyva (UTRGV) def. Preston DeFriend (ACU) 2 Up
Arthit Kruaprayong (UTRGV) def. Colin Leonard (ACU) Tied
Esteban Gonzalez (UTRGV) def. Jaime Lewis (ACU) 1 Up

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