September 12, 2007
ABILENE – Freshman Matt Vela shot a one-under par 141, helping him place fifth overall and leading the St. Mary’s University men’s golf team to a sixth place finish at the season-opening Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate, played at the Diamondback Country Club.
Vela (Fr., San Antonio) shot an opening round 67, and though he dropped to a 74 in the second round, he finished with a one-under 141, which was good enough for fifth overall, and was just six strokes out of first place. Mitch Hendon of Texas Wesleyan University won medalist honors with a two-round total of 135 (66-69). The tournament was the 2007 McArthur High School graduates first as a collegiate athlete.
Jimmy Willingham (Sr., San Antonio) finished 28th overall for the Rattlers with a two-round total of 148 (75-73). Jerry Holguin (Fr., San Antonio), also playing in his first tournament as a Rattler, shot a two-round total of 150 (79-71), to tie for 34th overall. James Grant (So., San Antonio) was 38th with a 151 (76-75) and Alex Maurer (Jr., St. Louis, Mo.) was 54th with a 154 (75-79).
Texas Wesleyan won the team competition with a two-round total of 566 (278-288). St. Edward’s was second with a 570 (283-287), Southeastern Oklahoma State was third with a 578 (285-293), Central Oklahoma was fifth with a 585 (290-295) and St. Mary’s was sixth with a 586 (293-293).
The Rattlers will return to action in one week when they travel to Duncanville, Okla., to play in The Territory Classic, hosted by Cameron University. The tournament will start on Monday, Sept. 17 and run through Tuesday, Sept. 18.
Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate
Abilene, Texas
Team Results: 1. Texas Wesleyan 566 (278-288), 2. St. Edward’s 570 (283-287), 3. Southeastern Oklahoma State 578 (285-293), 4. Central Oklahoma 583 (290-293), 5. Abilene Christian 585 (290-295), 6. St. Mary’s 586 (293-293), 7. Midwestern State 588 (280-308), 8. Southwestern Oklahoma State 592 (297-295), 9. Cameron 595 (291-304), 10. Dallas Baptist 600 (302-298), 11. Lincoln 603 (306-297), 12. West Texas A&M 606 (299-307), 13. Texas A&M-Commerce 610 (298-312), 14. Incarnate Word 610 (297-315), 15. Newman 614 (298-316), 16. College of the Southwest 622 (321-301), 17. Abilene Christian JV 626 (303-323), 18. Oklahoma Panhandle State 642 (309-333).
Individual Results: 1. Mitch Hendon (Texas Wesleyan) 135 (66-69), 2. Paco Saracho (Texas Wesleyan) 136 (69-67), 3. Jeff Howard (St. Edward’s) 138 (69-69), 4. Jordan Sullivan (Southeastern Okla. St.) 140 (69-71), 5. Matt Vela (St. Mary’s) 141 (67-74).
Other St. Mary’s Results: t28. Jimmy Willingham 148 (75-73), t34. Jerry Holguin 150 (79-71), t38. James Grant 151 (76-75), t54. Alex Maurer 154 (75-79).