KERRVILLE – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's golf team entered the day trailing by two strokes but an even par 288 in the final round helped them secure the program's first-ever Southland Conference (SLC) Championship on Wednesday at Comanche Trace.
The conference championship is the first for the program since they won the America Sky Conference Championship in 2010 but it's the program first-ever conference championship with an Automatic Qualifier (AQ). The Vaqueros will find out in what regional they will compete in during the NCAA Selection Show on May 6.
Additionally, it's the first-time ever the department has won four conference championships in the same academic year to go along with a women's golf, women's indoor track & field, and volleyball championships.
UTRGV's final round 288 gave them a three-round score of 866 as they finished one stroke ahead of Incarnate Word. Houston Christian finished third with New Orleans and East Texas A&M rounding out the top-five.
The Vaqueros finished with three in the top-10 with freshman
Jorge Martin Sampedro leading the way with a tied for third place finish. Sophomore
Gabriel Dulon Villoslada finished in seventh and junior
Esteban Gonzalez finished tied for eighth. Junior
Rodolphe Cicala finished tied for 18
th while freshman
Brock Porter finished tied for 23
rd.
Sampedro carded a final round even par 72 to finish with a three-round score of 215 as he posted a front nine two-under 34 with a two-over 38 on the back nine. Sampedro recorded an eagle, two birdies, four bogeys and 11 pars.
Villosalda posted a final round 75 to finish with a three-round score of 217. He carded a front nine one-under 35 while turning in a four-over 40 on the back as he turned in three birdies, six bogeys, and nine pars.
Gonzalez posted a final round even par 72, his second of the tournament, for a three-round score of 218. He posted a one-over par 37 on the front nine with a one-under par 35 on the back nine as he carded three birdies, three bogeys, and 12 pars. Cicala carded a final round 75 for a three-round score of 222 as he posted a front nine three-over 39 with a back nine even par 36.
Porter had the best round of the day for the Vaqueros as he carded a final round three-under 69 to finish with a three-round score of 224. Porter turned in a front nine even par 36 with an eagle, a birdie, three bogeys, and four pars while finishing strong with a back nine three-under 33 with three birdies and six pars.
The Vaqueros took advantage of the par fives throughout the tournament as played them 17-under, which was a tournament best.
| Place |
Team |
Rd 1 |
Rd 2 |
Rd 3 |
Total |
| 1. |
UTRGV |
297 |
281 |
288 |
866 |
| 2. |
Incarnate Word |
295 |
281 |
291 |
867 |
| 3. |
Houston Christian |
295 |
294 |
282 |
871 |
| 4. |
New Orleans |
298 |
293 |
289 |
880 |
| 5. |
East Texas A&M |
296 |
290 |
295 |
881 |
| 6. |
Lamar |
303 |
292 |
291 |
886 |
| 7. |
Southeastern |
297 |
296 |
296 |
889 |
| 8. |
Nicholls |
298 |
304 |
303 |
905 |
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