April 21, 2009

After finishing 14 strokes behind on day one of the Great West Golf Championships, the Lady Broncs shot a low round of 313 to lift them to a first place finish capturing the Great West Golf Championships, while second-year head coach Ofelia Lopez was named Great West Coach of the Year.

"We played really well and they kept putting on the pressure. It took all five of them, as a team, to come back from 14 strokes to take this. They all played with heart and soul and did everything they usually do and it was their day to win," said Director of Men and Women's Golf Ofelia Lopez.

After firing a low round of 73 amongst the field, Haley Hocott jumped seven spots to be crowned Great West Conference Golf Champion as she fired an overall score of 235 (81-81-73). Hocott was also named Great West Player of the Year and named First Team All-Conference. Senior Mariale Camey finished five strokes behind Hocott with a total score of 240 (81-79-80).

"Today my mind set was to fight for the team. I put pressure on the girl and she crumbled," said Haley Hocott. "It worked out to my advantage and it so happened I was playing well at the same time."

Senior Bronwyn Sandberg jumped nine spots to finish fourth as she fired a 243 (85-81-77), while Maria Jose Camey dropped three spots for a seventh-place finish with a score of 246. With a score of 254, Sarah Kothny finished 16th for the Lady Broncs.

Mariale Camey and Bronwyn Sandberg join Hocott as a First Team All-Conference selection while freshman Maria Jose Camey was named Second Team All-Conference. In her second season at the helm of the Lady Broncs, Director of Men and Women's Golf Ofelia Lopez was named GW Coach of the Year.

"It's a great honor to be named Coach of the Year, but it wouldn't have come without my team. They've listened to everything I've had to say and taken it in," Lopez said. "This is an honor for me, but it is a reflection of them."

As the Lady Broncs captured the tournament title, Houston Baptist trailed UTPA by nine strokes for a second-place finish with a 970; Utah Valley (1008), Chicago State (1015) and North Dakota (1023) rounded out the top-five.

The Lady Broncs next prepare for the Minority Collegiate Golf Championship in Port St. Lucie, FL on May 8.

UTPA Sports Information