GLADEWATER, Texas – After a slow start to the season, the UT Arlington men's golf team will look to heat up this week at the fiery Tempest Golf Club for the Tempest Collegiate hosted by Texas State.
 
UTA LINEUP
1) Hiroki Miya
2) Caleb Hicks
3) Trent Griessel
4) Daniel Cronje
5) Zak Jones
Ind.) Alberto Menacho
 
Four of UTA's five members will be the same for the third-straight tournament to begin the year, with Griessel making his season debut. The three-day tournament will start Sunday, Oct. 9, and conclude Tuesday, Oct 11. Day-one tee times and pairings, when posted, along with live scoring all tournament will be available via Golfstat.
 
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
This will be UTA's first appearance at the Tempest Collegiate, and the first time since 2002 that Texas State – located in San Marcos – will host the tournament.
 
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Central Michigan, HCU (Houston Christian University; previously Houston Baptist University (HBU)), Incarnate Word, Louisiana, Nicholls State, Rice, Stephen F. Austin, South Alabama, Texas State, UT Arlington, UTRGV
 
ABOUT THE COURSE
This will be the first time UTA tees it up on what is currently ranked as the No. 2 best course in Texas. Architect Jeff Brauer designed the course specifically to challenge the long-ball hitters, with tight fairways and a slope rating of 130 likely to be a great test for the entire field. The quintet of UTA players will be making their competitive collegiate debut on the par-72, 7,229-yard layout.
 
LINEUP INFORMATION

• Miya, making his third-consecutive tournament appearance, is coming off another solid showing at +4 (76-72-72) this past week at SMU's Trinity Forest Invitational. The New Zealand native will look to continue his strong start as he has only posted one round above 72 in six opportunities this year; his 72.33 scoring average ranks 2nd on the team, and he has three par-or-better performances.
   
• Hicks has been UTA's best player early on this year with a scoring average below par at 71.33 (-0.17 versus par). He leads the team with four par-or-better rounds, and the Arlington native will be seeking to add to that total at Tempest GC as he has yet to post a score this year worse than +2.
   
• Griessel, a sophomore, will be making his season debut this week. After competing in three tournaments last year, the Redmond, Wash., native had an average score of 77.11 and a career-best T-28 finish at The Texan Invitational.
   
• Cronje quickly turned his year around with a much better showing at the Trinity Forest Invitational, registering his first under-par performance of the year in the opening round with a 71. The South African followed it up with an even-par 72 in the 2nd round and finished at +4 for the tournament to rank 2nd on the Mavs.
   
• Jones – also qualifying for his third-straight tournament – has had a little bit of a slow start to the 2022-23 season. However, the graduate student posted a 1-over total through his final two rounds last week, and he is on track to play in as many tournaments this year as he did his past two seasons combined.
   
• In addition the lineup quintet, Menacho will be competing as an individual for the Mavs. This will be the first time UTA has had a player compete as an individual this year, but it will mark the Peru native's third appearance in as many weeks. He has a 73.83 scoring average over six rounds this season, including a team-low-tying 69.

NEXT UP
The Mavs will make a trip out to Little Rock, Ark., for their sixth-straight appearance at Chenal Country Club as part of the Little Rock Invitational. Last season the Mavs finished 8th, and in the 2020-21 season Hicks posted his best career finish with a T-2 showing to lead UTA to a solo 3rd.
 
ABOUT TEXAS RANGERS GOLF CLUB
Opened in February of 2019, the state-of-the-art Texas Rangers Golf Club is the new home of UTA's men's and women's golf programs. The world's only Major League Baseball-branded golf course, TRGC is the result of a $24 million renovation and updated routing of the former Chester W. Ditto Golf Course.
 
The Home of UTA Golf was designed by UTA alumni John Colligan and Trey Kemp of Arlington-based Colligan Golf Design. It features an expansive 23-acre practice area, and a new 33,871-square-foot clubhouse features a full-service restaurant and bar, covered patio overlooking the golf course, pro shop, locker rooms and numerous rental and event spaces. For more information about TRGC, click here.
 
FOLLOW THE MAVS SOCIALLY
For up-to-date news, photos and videos of the UTA men's golf program, follow us on Twitter: @UTAMavsMGolf, Instagram: @UTAMavsMGolf and Facebook: /UTAMavsMGolf.