Rio men win team title, Portilla first at Shootout

Rio Grande Sports Information
     KOKOMO, Ind. - The University of Rio Grande men's golf team jumped to an eight-shot first round lead and then held on over the final 18 holes to capture the championship of the IUK Spring Shootout hosted by Indiana University Kokomo.
     The two-day event wrapped up Sunday at Wildcat Creek Golf Course.
     The RedStorm finished at 42-over par 610, good enough for a three-shot triumph over Indiana University Southeast. Oakland City was third at 48-over 616.
     Rio Grande finished the opening round at 16-over par 300 for an eight-shot lead, but the Grenadiers made things interesting on day by shaving five strokes off the RedStorm lead.
     Senior Rodrigo Portilla (Sevilla, Spain) took medalist honors, finishing at 2-over par 144. He carded an even 71 in round one, before shooting a 73 over the final 18 holes.
     Portilla finished two shots ahead of Oakland City's Jose Vidal.
     Others representing the RedStorm in the 43-player field were junior Juan Carlo Gil Perez (Malaga, Spain), who tied for ninth at 13-over 155; freshman Rafael Martinez (Bahia Blanca, Argentina), who was one of four players tied for 11th place at 14-over par 156; freshman Pablo Gutierrez (Puebla, Mexico), who was one of a trio tied for 17th place at 16-over 158; and freshman Pedro Torrens (Neuquen, Argentina), who tied for 21st place at 18-over 160.
     Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action April 26-28 at the River States Conference Championship in Daniels, W.Va.