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RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s golf team put together a fall season that sets them up for what could be a big spring, but they too feel they is more to build from.
The Vaqueros came out hot at the start of the fall as they set a program record with single round score of 285 in the final round of the Lady Clerico, where they finished in fifth place.
The Vaqueros had flashes throughout the fall that allows them to believe they are capable of more, but they know they left some strokes out there.
“We had a lot of new faces on the women’s side as well,” UTRGV Director of Golf Houston Moore said. “We had three transfers, and all made an impact this fall. It was really good to see them shoot that program record in the final round of the first tournament. I was so proud of them for that. We got really solid play from Natalia. She is on pace for the lowest stroke average in program history. The women are on track to have the lowest team stroke average in program history, so things are huge but at the same time they did not all click at the same time. We think we have a good group of experience with some new faces that bring a new level of competitiveness. It was fun.”
The Vaqueros were led by junior Natalia Rodriguez, who closed out the fall with a Southland Conference Player of the Month for October. Rodriguez finished the fall with a 75.2 stroke average to lead the team.
Rodriguez not only leads on the course but off the course as well and has embraced the new role this fall.
“Natalia has fallen into a leadership role, whether she knew it or not,” Moore said. “It kind of just went that way. When you play well, people just look up to you. I think she is comfortable, she enjoys the experience on the road and is free out there. She is enjoying her time.”
The Vaqueros brought in three new faces and just like the men’s team, got plenty of contributions from them in the fall.
Miriam Barcalova played in all four tournaments in the fall and posted a 76.5 stroke average while Pitchayapa Pungpho played in three tournaments and posted a solid 78.4 stroke average.
Zoe Hobbs played in just two tournaments but has made all her rounds cout this fall as she finished with a 75.1 stroke average.
The newcomers have not only helped lower the team scoring average but also are helping build a culture of competition.
“Pitchayapa played well in the first event and contributed right away,” Moore said. “We are really excited about that. Zoe had a slow start as she struggled to get into the lineup because the women are fairly deep too. When she did get in the van, I think she counted in all her rounds. She brings a level of experience as well. Miriam has played every event and is a very talented player. She has come in and been a really good player for us and has solidified herself as one of our better players. They bring a level competitiveness that we love. They want to win and be successful and I think that is huge. That is the mindset we have been trying to bring to the program.”
In every season there are highs and lows, but for teams to grow, they have to learn from the lows. Coach Moore has loved the resilience the team has show throughout the fall and he knows they have progressed since August.
“I think about resilience when it comes the women’s team,” Moore said. “They had some struggles, but they always bought back and fought harder. That’s what you want to see from young teams. They bought into our message, which was huge. I think there is only room for improvement. They have progressed and gotten better. They started hot but I think moving forward, they have continued to progress.”
As a team, the Vaqueros finished with a 305.4 scoring average with just the one top-five finish. However, the Vaqueros know there was still some meat left on the bone and are already thinking about the spring.
“It’s the offseason right now but that facility is full,” Moore said. “We don’t have scheduled practice right now, but the women are showing up there and putting in work on their own. They are wearing the facility out. They all want to be good. No one wants to be left alone. That environment of competitiveness is what we are trying to breed, and it seems like they have bought into it.”
For Coach Moore, the fall was different for him this season as he now oversees both the women’s team and the men’s team. While it was different and taxing, the fall was still so enriching for him.
He knows both programs are in a good spot heading into the spring.
“It was a busy fall,” Moore said. “October was a crazy month, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Being on the road with both teams has been great. It wears you down but at the same time they are great groups of student-athletes to be around. The chemistry on both teams is unbelievable right now and we just enjoy every one of them. It was a really good fall. Not even from a competitiveness standpoint but from a team experience for both sides.”
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