Sept. 9, 2005

By Jeff Sutton (UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director)

With a trio of seniors leading the way, the University of Texas - Pan American women's golf team is primed for another strong year.

One of the main goals for the 2004-05 Lady Broncs' was to shoot under 300 as a team, which was accomplished on the last day of the season with a team score of 299 at the National Minority College Golf Championships.

This year's squad has their sights set on a round of 295 or better. Head Coach Barb Odale said "Instead of making a goal of 298, we wanted to step it down and say, `We're going to shoot for 295.' We've also set, as a team, a goal of winning two tournaments in the fall."

Odale expects there to be a dogfight leading up to each tournament to determine who will be traveling. This year's edition of the UTPA women's golf team will feature three seniors at the front along with one junior, and three freshmen.

Leading the way for the Lady Broncs will be three-time defending National Minority College Golf Champion Stefanie Maynard (Pflugerville, TX/Pflugerville H.S.). The program's most successful golfer with a total of five tournament victories in her three year career, breaking the previous record of four, won by Nancy Verastegui. She was named a first team All-Independent team member in 2004 and 2005 as well as the Co-Independent Golfer of the Year in 2004. After her freshman season she was a second team All-Independent selection.

Maynard shot a career-low round of 71 in 2005, tying her for the second-lowest round in UTPA women's golf history, just one stroke shy of the program record of 70. In three years, she has been a top-five finisher in seven tournaments and has finished in the top 15 on 15 separate occasions.

"Stefanie has been our lowest-scoring golfer the last three years. She expects herself to go on and play professionally. For her to play well this year, she has to not think so heavily about the future and concentrate on now. She's got to take it one shot at a time, one day at a time and the results will take care of themselves," said Odale.

Senior Daniela Cortes (Aguascalientes, Mexico/Colegio Portugal) was voted to the position of team captain for the 2005-06 campaign. She was named a second team All-Independent selection, marking the third time in three years she earned that distinction. Last season, Cortes notched three top-five finishes to go along with seven top-15 finishes.

"Daniela is one of those players who smiles and is easy-going. When she's on the golf course, she's still smiling and easy-going, but before you know it she's playing really well. I expect her leadership to grow and to put her in a position where she's making some more decisions in helping the underclassmen," added Odale.

Senior Nikki Boychuk (Conroe, TX/Willis H.S.) has the ability to hit a golf ball further than many of her collegiate counterparts and that has helped her become one of the top golfers at UTPA. Over the last two seasons, she has finished runner-up to Maynard in the National Minority College Golf Championships. For the 2004-05 season, Boychuk notched four top-15 finishes, two of which had her in the top 10.

"I've really enjoyed watching Nikki grow as a player from her freshman year to now, entering her senior year. She's really learned that the short game is where you control your scoring, and she's spent countless hours by herself on the putting green working on weekends and doing everything she can to improve her short game," stated Odale.

Junior Natalie Haime (Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada/Perth and District Collegiate Inst.) competed in just one tournament last season and is now in a position to really make a strong contribution. She has spent the last two years working hard under the tutelage of Odale and appears primed to be an impact performer.

"Natalie played well this summer and got herself in great shape. I really expect for her to come out and be a part of the top-five traveling team. I expect her to take the last two years of learning, put everything together, and show me what she can do," said Odale.

Junior Elizabeth Rodriguez (Kingwood, TX/Kingwood H.S.) will be taking a redshirt this season so she can focus on the toughest part of her pre-med/chemistry program.

"We're going to miss Elizabeth, but we have enough people to fill her shoes. Next year, she should be able to step in and really solidify and mature the team," stated Odale.

Senior Carling Filewich (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada/Univ. of Texas-Brownsville) is also taking a redshirt this season.

"This summer Carling has improved tremendously. I expect her to be back in 2006 ready to compete for a spot on the traveling squad," added Odale.

Three freshmen will begin their collegiate careers this season under Odale. Rachel Gee (Big Spring, TX/Big Spring H.S.) will join the Lady Broncs after a highly-touted prep career and will look to play her way into tournaments this season. At 5-10, Gee will be the tallest player on the UTPA golf team.

"I think once she realizes how much her height can help her in creating club head speed, she'll be a neat player down the road. She just needs some work on her short game and some maturity to make better decisions on the golf course," said Odale.

Bronwyn Sandberg (St. Albert, Alberta, Canada/Bellerose Composite H.S.) will be another freshman trying to make an impact on the squad this season. She was recently ranked ninth in the Province of Alberta as a prep player and should be a fantastic addition to the Lady Broncs.

"I'm really excited about Bronwyn. She played really well up in Canada. She's one that is really easy-going, but I need her to intensify on the golf course. Once she learns how to balance everything going on as a freshman in college, I think she is going to be a great player," stated Odale.

Melissa Uriegas (Pharr, TX/PSJA North H.S.) is joining the team as a walk-on, bringing some of the local Rio Grande Valley talent to the UTPA golf program.

"She's probably the shortest player on the team, in both stature and hitting distance. She's really steady as far as keeping it down the fairway and as for her attitude; she really wants everything to be perfect, which can get her in trouble on the course. I'm really excited that she's here," said Odale.

This season has the potential to be the best yet for Odale and the Lady Broncs. UTPA will have a great mix of experienced upperclassmen to go along with a group of very talented newcomers who are all swinging towards a great year.

In the words of Odale, "It should be a lot of fun!"

UTPA Sports Information