‘Greatest upgrade in collegiate golf history’

UTRGV Athletics hosted a grand-opening ceremony for the Vaqueros Golf Center Wednesday at the Champion Lakes Golf Course in McAllen. The $3-million facility includes locker rooms for the men’s and women’s golf teams, head coach and staff offices, a study lounge and two hitting bays.
**Abigail Ollave/THE RIDER**

UTRGV Athletics opened the Vaqueros Golf Center Wednesday morning at the Champion Lakes Golf Course in McAllen as part of its $85-million commitment to upgrade facilities for all its programs.

Construction of the nearly $3 million Vaqueros Golf Center began in December.

Prior to this, athletes in the golf programs had no permanent facility of their own. Many resorted to using their cars to store their equipment.

The 4,200-square-foot facility includes locker rooms for the men’s and women’s golf teams, offices for coaches, a study room and two hitting bays with Trackman technology, which allows players and coaches to specifically pinpoint where improvements can be made.

Senior Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque described the Vaqueros Golf Center as “state of the art” in his remarks at the opening ceremony.

“It’s first class,” Conque said. “It’s gonna be unbelievable for our current student athletes and our future student athletes as well.”

UTRGV Women’s Golf head coach Bryan Novoa referred to the facility as “the greatest upgrade in collegiate golf history.”

“We went from having a van to this amazing 4,200-square-foot building,” Novoa said. “It’s just unheard of. I am getting chills just thinking about that.”

UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque acknowledges the partners and contributors of the $3-million Vaqueros Golf Center at the grand opening held Wednesday at Champion Lakes Golf Course in McAllen. Abigail Ollave/THE RIDER
UTRGV Women’s Golf head coach Bryan Novoa gives his remarks on the new golf facility Wednesday at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Champion Lakes Golf Course in McAllen. Abigail Ollave/THE RIDER
UTRGV Men’s Golf head coach Houston Moore expresses his excitement for the Vaqueros Golf Center grand opening Wednesday at Champion Lakes Golf Course in McAllen. Abigail Ollave/THE RIDER
Members of the UTRGV golf teams, along with project partners and staff, gather outside the new Vaqueros Golf Center minutes before the ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday at the Champion Lakes Golf Course in McAllen. Abigail Ollave/THE RIDER
Redshirt junior Taj Sutherland (from left), senior Javier Neira Garcia and freshman Eddie Lai put their V’s up in their new locker rooms in the Vaqueros Golf Center Wednesday at the Champion Lakes Golf Course in McAllen. Abigail Ollave/THE RIDER

UTRGV Men’s Golf head coach Houston Moore called the grand opening “a transformative day for UTRGV golf.”

“We’re really excited about what this facility has to hold,” Moore said. “Tremendous step forward for our programs. We plan to utilize the facility to its full potential and, hopefully, tap into ours.”

Women’s golf senior Mercedes Vega felt “grateful and lucky” to be among the first athletes to use the new facility.

“I think, honestly, now we don’t have an excuse,” Vega said. “I think we have the best technology now, so, you know, time to work.”

Men’s golf senior Leonardo Novella said it was a huge thing for the program to have the new facility.

“Obviously as a golfer, you’re always trying to improve and get better,” Novella said. “So, using this facility is going to be different. So, it’s going to be our home. A place where we can all hang out and practice together, all getting tips from each other.”

UTRGV Athletics generated funding for these projects through sponsorships, ticket sales and fundraising, according to the department’s website. State law forbids UTRGV to use tuition revenue to build or renovate athletic facilities.