Men's Golf Team Leads UMHB Tournament

Anthony Lopez

The UTB/TSC men's golf team started out the 2006 season with a one-stroke lead in the University of Mary Hardin Baylor Fall Invitational Monday at the Mill Creek Country Club in Salado.

The Scorpions shot a team total of 294, one shot ahead of Lubbock Christian University after the first 18 holes of the 36-hole tournament.

Anthony Lopez shot a 72 and Jones Mitchell and Agapito Ortega shot 73s to lead the Scorpions, while Chris Milligan shot a 76.

"Right now, the team has a good attitude," said Scorpion coach Bob Lucio. "A lot of teams are bunched up though. Anything can happen."

The second and final round will be played Tuesday. Heavy rain slowed play for the first part of the day Monday.

As for individual honors, Lopez was two shots behind co-leaders Casey Wharton of UHMB and Coy Beck of UT-Tyler. Three players shot opening round 71s, and Lopez was among four with 72.  Ortega shot 40 on the front nine and 33 on the back nine.

"The guys are determined," Lucio said. "Anthony (Lopez) was very steady, and we want him to be more aggrssive. Jones (Mitchell) is totally focused, he has a lot of confidence. Agapito (Ortega) had a great back nine. But our guy of the day was Chris (Milligan), he was like a robot out there."