Jose Rodriguez Esteban Gonzalez, a management sophomore from McAllen, is a member of the UTRGV Men’s Golf Team. Gonzalez moved his way to the Top-10 and tied for 10th place in the second round of the Vaqueros Intercollegiate on Feb. 3 at Playa Paraiso Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Jose Rodriguez/THE RIDER
Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: “I would say I’m from the [Rio Grande] Valley. I haven’t left the Valley. I was born and raised here in McAllen.”
Q: Who or what got you started to golf?
A: “I think it was kind of a group thing, but my dad mainly. And so, we played baseball before golf for a pretty long time and we discovered golf when I was about 11, 12. I made the switch and never looked back.”
Q: Who has been your biggest inspiration or role model?
A: “My dad, just because I base a lot of the things I do off of his work ethic and his attitude. And I know he wasn’t really like the golfer to look after, but his attitude, his work ethic really pushed me to be better. And I kind of implement all of that in my life.”
Q: Who is your favorite golfer?
A: “I have to say Will Zalatoris.”
Q: Which movies or shows do you watch?
A: “I’ll give you my three top movies of all time. So, it’s ‘Interstellar,’ ‘Man on Fire’ and ‘Ford v Ferrari.’”
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: “I like to fish and hunt every now and then.”
Q: What is your biggest motivation?
A: “My biggest motivation is thinking about my future and what I want for my future.”
Q: What do you like the most about UTRGV?
A: “The community, the people. Everyone here is awesome.”
Q: What are your biggest goals?
A: “My biggest goal, I would say … is to graduate from this school and have, like, no regrets.”
–Compiled and photo by Jose Rodriguez
Eduardo Escamilla 
Andres Estrada 
Mykel Del Angel 
