Nov. 4, 2005

The University of Texas-Pan American women's golf team will conclude its 2005 fall season with the 11th-annual Bronc Classic on its home turf at Los Lagos Golf Club, beginning on Monday (Nov. 7).

The Lady Broncs will play host to some familiar faces with Texas State, North Texas, University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, Oklahoma City University and McLennan Junior College all coming to the Rio Grande Valley for the season-ending tournament.

"I really like our chances at the tournament," said head women's golf coach Barb Odale. "We really have to play well and can't afford to make any mistakes with the competition. All of the teams are about equal, and this is going to be a lot of fun for everyone."

Odale and the Lady Broncs captured their second team championship of the fall season a year ago, and their first at the home tournament last season with an 11-stroke advantage over runner-ups North Texas.

Senior Stefanie Maynard (Pflugerville, TX/Pflugerville H.S.) won her fourth career individual title as she outlasted Andra Lancaster of North Texas on the third playoff hole for the championship. With that victory, Maynard tied Nancy Versategui for the most career victories then broke the record six months later as she won her third consecutive individual title at the National Minority College Golf Championships.

Of the five golfers that will be in the lineup for UTPA at the Bronc Classic, three finished in the top 11 of the tournament a season ago. Along with Maynard, Nikki Boychuk (Conroe, TX/Willis H.S.) and Daniela Cortes (Aguascalientes, Mexico/Colegio Portal) each played a critical role in the Lady Broncs' title, posting a seventh and 11th respectively.

This season, Maynard has finished in the top eight in each of the team's three tournaments, including a season-best third place finish at the ORU Shootout hosted by Oral Roberts University where she finished with a three-round total of 228.

Boychuk has collected three top-16 finishes, including a ninth-place finish at the ORU Shootout with a tournament total of 231 while Cortes placed 23rd on two occasions at both the North Texas Women's Classic and Unlimited Potential / Bay Tree Classic.

"It really wouldn't shock me one bit to have these three finish at the top of the leaderboard at the tournament. Stefanie and Nikki are so competitive against each other, and Daniela will also play well enough to have a chance to be at the top," added Odale.

The Lady Broncs will also have a pair of freshmen in the lineup in Bronwyn Sandberg (St. Albert, Alberta, Canada/Bellerose Composite H.S.) and Rachel Gee (Big Springs, TX/Big Springs H.S.), and the home course could favor the newcomers in their mental preparation for the tournament.

"I think that Bronwyn and Rachel are both learning as players, and they are realizing that you don't have to hit every shot perfect in order to score well. They are both doing good jobs in making sound choices when they are in trouble.

Last season, the Lady Broncs went into the season with the goal of breaking the 300-barrier for the first time in program history. That mark was broken at the Bronc Classic when they shot a 299 during the second round. The bar was set at the 295 barrier this season, and no place is better to see that mark fall then at the Bronc Classic.

"I think that it's very possible for us to shoot lower than 295. If the weather conditions play in our favor then I think that we have a shot," added Odale.

The Bronc Classic will begin on Monday (Nov. 7) at the Los Lagos Golf Club where the first team to tee off will begin at 8:00 a.m.

UTPA Sports Information