SAN ANTONIO — UTSA returns to the links this weekend when it travels to Knoxville, Tenn., for the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championships. The three-day event begins on Friday at Holston Hills Country Club (par 72/6,447 yards).
Two seasons ago, Paola Valerio set a program record and tied a tournament record with a final-round 66 to finish the event in fifth place.
Where: Holston Hills Country Club (par 72/6,447 yards) — Knoxville, Tenn.
When: Friday, Oct. 12 — Sunday, Oct. 14
Format: Three-day event with tee times for the first two days and a shotgun start for Sunday's final round.
Teams: East Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, Florida State, Furman, #14 Iowa State, James Madison, Memphis,Miami, Mississippi State, #10 Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, Tennessee, Tennessee-Chattanooga, #23 Texas A&M, UTSA.
Live scoring: golfstat.com
UTSA Lineup
Fabiola Arriaga (Jr. - Torreon, Mexico)
· Recorded top-five finishes at both tournaments this season
· Leads the WAC and is tied for fifth in the nation with a 71.17 stroke average
· Shot a career-low round of 68 in the second round of the Golfweek Conference Challenge (Sept. 24-26)
· 2012 Southland Conference Player of the Year
· Two-time first-team all-conference selection
· Set a program record with a 74.91 stroke average last season
Chelsea Bretcher (Jr. - Austin, Texas)
· Owns a 77.91 career stroke average
· Shot a 234 (78-78-78) to tie for 55th at the Dale McNamara Invitational (Sept. 17-18)
· Played in two events as a freshman and competed as an individual at The 2011 Alamo Invitational (Oct. 30-Nov. 1)
· Set personal bests with a 54-hole score of 224 and two rounds of 73 at the event
· First start since the 2010 Mercedes-Benz Colligiate Championship (Oct. 8-10)
Allie Johnston (Fr. - Castle Rock, Colo.)
· Will play as an individual this weekend
· Fifth on the team with a 79.33 stroke average
· Shot a 237 (82-76-79) at the Golfweek Conference Challenge to tie for 66th
· Rated by Golfweek as the No. 29 recruit in the 2012 class
· Won the 2012 Colorado Women's Golf Association Match Play Championship this summer
· Runner-up at the 2012 CHSAA 5A Girls Golf Championship
Taylor Newlin (Jr. - Frisco, Texas)
· Tied for third on the team with a 78.00 stroke average
· Improved her score all three rounds at the Golfweek Conference Challenge to tie for 52nd with a 232 (80-77-75)
· 2011 and 2012 second-team All-Southland Conference
· Her 76.70 stroke average ranks third in program history
· Has played in all 22 tournaments in the last two seasons
· Tied with Summer Batiste atop the standings at the 2012 Islanders Classic(Feb. 27-28)
Brogan Townend (Fr. - Blackburn, England)
· Shot a 241 (79-83-79) at the Golfweek Conference Challenge in her collegiate debut
· Carded seven birdies at the event
· Is a member of the English National Team
· Two-time runner-up at the Northern Women's Championship
· 2011 Faldo Series Girls Champion
Paola Valerio (Sr. - Mexico City, Mexico)
· Second on the team with a 77.00 stroke average
· Tied for 32nd at the Golfweek Conference Challenge with a 226 (73-75-78)
· Three-time All-Southland Conference honoree (first-team: 2010, 2011/second-team: 2012)
· 2011 Southland Conference Player of the Year
· Ranks second in program history with a 76.15 career scoring average
· Has played in a team-high 29 tournaments