Kristina Gutierrez lets her drive do the talking

Excellence on the golf course.

Javelina Athletics’ Feature Athlete is senior Kristina Gutierrez, named for her consistent play throughout her solid golfing career at TAMUK.

Tuesday, Feb. 9, Gutierrez finished the Jack Brown Memorial Invitational in sixth place, marking her seventh top 10 finish in competition.

Gutierrez told Javelina Athletics that TAMUK will always be a special place for her.

“Javelina Nation holds a special place in my heart,” she said. “It means we are part of a tradition of excellence and a loving community that follows you wherever you go. Go Hogs!”

Much success has come from this university and this community, with individuals making names for themselves in all aspects of life, making Gutierrez one of many in the Javelina family to show that tradition of excellency, as she stated.

At the Laredo Country Club in Laredo, Texas last week, the golf team took seventh place and although there were bright moments for the team, coach Stefanie Maynard highlights room for improvement.

“This tournament was a good assessment of where we are at,” said coach Stefanie Gray in an interview with Javelina Athletics, “and determining the steps to where we want to be. They learned they will have to work harder and be sharper for tougher courses.”

This, however, should not overshadow the individual performance for Gutierrez as her only real blunder on the course came on the first hole of the day when she went down a nine on the par-4 second, one of just two times in 54 holes she carded a score higher than a bogey.

The Laredo native was four-over for the rest of the day and one- over through her last nine holes, a stretch she concluded with a birdie on hole number one. Gutierrez is sure to give off more performances like this weekend at the Woman’s Rattler Invitational, in San Antonio, March 1 to 2.