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RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men’s golf team took it to another level this fall but know that there was still room for improvement that could lead to a special spring.
“We had a lot of highs this fall,” UTRGV Director of Golf Houston Moore said. “We had a lot of really good rounds, individually and as a team. It didn’t seem like we put a whole tournament together, so I think going into the spring we are really excited about that. Once all the guys get hot and show up for an entire tournament as a whole, I think a lot of good things are ahead for the men’s program. I enjoyed the fall, especially finishing second in Mexico, so we are trying to take that momentum into the spring.”
The Vaqueros finished the fall season with a 288.4 team average and posted a second-place finish at the Monterrey Collegiate Classic. They finished at even or under par in two of the four fall tournaments.
Freshman Jorge Martin Sampedro set a program record with a seven-under 64 in the final round of the JT Poston Invitational and as a team, UTRGV posted a second round 275 at the Trinity Forest Invitational, which was tied for the third lowest team round in program history.
The Vaqueros welcomed in newcomers Sampedro, Rodolphe Cicala, Gabriel Dulon Villoslada, and Brock Porter and the group left their mark on the program this fall.
“Rodolphe, Gabriel, Jorge, and Brock all played at some compacity and contributed this fall,” Moore said “It’s a testament to them on the level they brought when they got here. It’s been impressive. It pushes everyone on the team. We brought them in knowing they would make an impact on the golf course, but they are also making an impact off the golf course as well. They are pushing everyone else to give their best stuff day in and day out.”
Cicala, Villoslada, and Sampedro along with Esteban Gonzalez and Emilio Gil Leyva all posted scoring averages around 72 with Porter averaging a 74. With scoring averages so close together, that made lineup decisions tough.
Coach Moore had options, but it was about picking the right ones.
“It’s been tough,” Moore said “We have five guys that are averaging around 72 or better, so we are the deepest we have been since I have gotten here. It’s been tough to get in the van or plane, that’s for sure. It makes qualifying that much harder, but at that point, we are only as good as our sixth player. I think this year we have a talented bench. I can’t say enough, those guys that aren’t traveling, those guys are home are pushing the guys at the bottom of the lineup to make them better.”
The Vaqueros will take away a lot of highlights from the fall, some that will be used to take the program to the next level but Coach Moore doesn’t want to get complacent because he knows there was even more to improve on.
“I think some big highlights from the fall were 13 under in the second round at SMU was big,” Moore said “Jorge with a 63 and 64 was fun. That first day of the tournament in Monterrey, it was 27 holes and 27 holes. Rodolphe had two top-five finishes. Esteban played well. Gabriel played well. Emilio played on the PGA Tour. There was a lot of good, but we just need to get in sequence.”
While there was still room for improvement, the Vaqueros now know what they are capable of as they get ready for the spring season. If the Vaqueros can put it all together at the same time, it will be fun to see what the team can really do.
“The biggest take away from the fall is that we can, that we are capable,” Moore said “We didn’t play super-hot all fall but we are capable of playing really well in the spring. I think I would rather have it that. I would rather figure out our lineup and our team in the fall and realize that we are capable and move to the spring and see what we can do.”
In order to see some special things this fall, the focus has to be on this winter break. It will be important to continue to work hard to be ready for the spring or opportunities can be taken away.
“The writing is on the wall,” Moore said, “You better work hard this offseason because the guys that didn’t make every tournament in the fall is going to work hard during the break to get a spot in the spring. I think everyone knows that if you put the work then you will have an opportunity or you will take someone’s opportunity.”
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