April 3, 2007

WICHITA, Kan. -

Diet Pepsi Shocker Classic Results
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Freshman Bobby Massa sank a birdie putt on the 413-yard, par-4 18th hole to win the individual competition and lead the team to the championship of the 2007 Diet Pepsi Shocker Classic Tournament here Tuesday.

UT Arlington survived 40 mile-per-hour winds on the narrow, Wichita Country Club course to win the event by two strokes over NAIA Oklahoma City. The Mavs finished the final round 28-over-par 312 to win the tournament with a 54-hole total of 891. It is the team's first tournament win of the season and the first since the Southland Conference Championship on April 27, 2005.

OCU (893) finished two shots back with SLC member Sam Houston State third at 895. Wichita State (896), Nebraska (905), Northeastern State (905), Kansas State (905), Colorado (906), Oklahoma Christian (909) and Arkansas (912) round out the top 10. Iowa State (920) finished 11th with Drake (926), Stephen F. Austin (930), Texas-San Antonio (936), Rice 9937) and Evansville (961) rounding out the 16-team field.

"We won the tournament on the first day," said UT Arlington Head Golf Coach Jay Rees. "The effort yesterday was really good golf. I am a little shocked we won today. We played solid on the first nine (holes), but had some shots go in the water on the backside and had to count some double bogeys.

Freshman Michael van de Venter claimed his first top-10 finish of his collegiate career after a final round 78 was good enough for a three-round total of 222.

Freshman Bryce Easton tied for 13th with a 224. He shot a 78 on the final day.

Junior Zack Reeves, the last person to win a tournament for the Mavericks when he claimed the Squire Creek Intercollegiate title on Oct. 18, 2005, carded a final round 81 and finished third for 30th.

Freshman Kevin Varrichio finished with an 85 on Tuesday and finished with a 241.

UTA will end the regular season at the SLC Championship, April 16-18, at Comanche Trace Golf Club.