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Scorpion Athletics Press Release

Written by: Dan Huntley

Martinez Dominates Course and NJCAA Region XIV Competition

April 25, 2006

Freshman golf sensation, April Martinez, Edinburgh, TX took on the field at the 2006 NJCAA Region XIV Golf Championship Monday and Tuesday at the Garden Valley Golf Club, Garden Valley, TX.

The objective for Martinez, win the tournament and earn a trip to Daytona Beach, FL in May for the 2006 NJCAA Women’s National Golf Championship.

The format for the Region XIV National Championship qualification included combining the scores from the Junior College State Tournament, held April 3-4, 2006 and the Region XIV Tournament, held April 24-25, 2006. After the women’s team faltered in the State Tournament, trailing Lon Morris Community College by 61 strokes, Martinez knew that the only way to guarantee trip to compete in Daytona would be to win the Regional Tournament in order to keep her season alive.

At the State Tournament, Martinez shot 81, 87, and 88 for 256 and a three shot lead over Stephanie Boldger of Lon Morris CC. During the past two weeks, April worked extremely hard on all aspects of her game and it paid off for her as she dominated the Region XIV Tournament field. She opened the tournament by shooting a 78 and extended her lead over Boldger, who shot an 86, to nine strokes. The lead remained at nine strokes after 36 holes when all the scores were posted at the conclusion of Monday’s play. Although, April had a second round score of 87, her lead did not decrease as all scores came in a bit higher in the second round of the day.

After winning two of her last three tournaments, Martinez was battle tested and ready for anyone willing to make a run at her. With Daytona on her mind, she teed it Tuesday with Boldger and the rest of the field. April worked the course like a champion, posting her best round of the season, a 76, and found herself as the medalist of the NJCAA Region XIV Championship, winning by a remarkable 17 strokes. Her two tournaments combined totals were 81, 87, 88 for 256 and 78, 87, 76 for 241 and 497 total strokes.

Now, Martinez will set her sights on winning her fourth and last tournament of her junior college career, the NJCAA Women’s National Golf Championship on May 14-18, 2006. As a freshman, it will be the only chance she has at winning the NJCAA title, because the Scorpions will be in the NAIA and the Red River Athletic Conference next year.

With the National Championship and final exams to prepare for, Martinez’s social life will definitely come to a halt, but the time she puts into studying for tests and preparing on the golf course will allow her to represent our institution as a student-athlete extremely well.

Baseball games for tomorrow ( April 25th ) at Robstown vs. Laredo have been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 26, 2006 in Kingsville due to field problems. The Baseball Team will play a one 9-inning game vs LCC starting at 1:00 pm.