LAWTON, Okla. (September 16, 2025) – The 2025-26 season for The University of Texas Permian Basin women's golf team is underway as the Falcons competed at the Oklahoma Women's Intercollegiate hosted by Cameron University on Monday and Tuesday. With three freshmen and two sophomores in the lineup, the Falcons got their year off to a great start with a third-place finish.

UTPB led the tournament in par-5 scoring (5.22; +9) and tied for first in total pars (108). UTPB also had two individuals in the top-10 and four in the top-15 in the field of 38 golfers.

New UTPB Head Golf Coach Paul Chavez said, "I am extremely proud of these young ladies. It was a great start to the season, and anytime you have four players in the top-15, you did some great things. I am looking forward to improving and getting better as the season progresses, but we are off to a great start."

UTPB shot 304-303, finished with a score of 607 (+39), and found itself in third place after each round of the tournament. The Falcons trailed second-place The University of Texas at Dallas (295-302; 597) by 10 strokes.

The tournament hosts from Cameron (300-294; 594; +29) overcame a five-stroke first-round deficit to overtake UT Dallas during round two. The Aggies shot just 10-over-par during the final round.

In fourth place was Redlands Community College (314-302; 616; +48), nine strokes behind the Falcons.

When comparing this year's season opener to last year's when the Falcons had two players competing, Coach Chavez said, "It felt really good that we were able to complete as a team. Going into the back nine, we had a chance to win the championship, but couldn't get going with the birdies we needed to do so. However, being in the top-three is a still a really great start for us."

Freshman Lakshita Pragnya (74-74; 148; +6) shot three-over-par during each round and was tied for fifth place after each round. Pragnya also led the tournament in par-5 scoring (4.75; -2) and was tied for third with six birdies.

Freshman Abigail Archunde (79-72; 151; +9) shot UTPB's best round during round two (+1) and rose eight spots to finish tied for ninth place. She led the tournament with 28 pars.

Sophomore Lorena Etxeberria (74-78; 152; +10) finished one stroke behind Etxeberria in 13th place. Etxeberria was also tied for third in par-3 scoring (3.00; E).

Freshman Carlota Gutierrez (77-79; 156; +14) tied for 15th place. She was tied for sixth in par-4 scoring (4.22; +4).

Sophomore Nat Armenta (83-82; 165; +23) was 27th.

Lastly, Coach Chavez spoke to the youth on his current team, adding "I feel really good about this team. The freshman played really well. Lakshita finished in the top-five and Abigail was in the top-10. Those were two players I felt could come in and make an impact right away, and they certainly did that. I am looking forward to bigger and better things, but it was a great start for their careers. That was one of my goals coming in as a new coach at UTPB, being able to bring in your own players so I can develop them. I am used to bringing in new players frequently at the junior college level, and I really like the idea of being able to develop my own players and show what we can do. Hopefully by year two or year three we are contending in the Lone Star Conference and can make an impact on the championship race."

The UT Permian Basin women's golf team heads to Dallas Baptist University, Monday-Tuesday, September 22-23, to compete at the DBU Classic.