Sept. 9, 2004
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THIS WEEK IN LOBO WOMEN’S GOLF
No. 10 New Mexico hosts 26th Annual Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 13 – Wednesday, Sept. 15
WHERE:UNM Championship Course – Albuquerque, N.M. – Par 73 – 6,069 yards
Live scores of the tournament available at www.golfstat.com
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Sunday, Sept. 12
Practice Round: 7:40 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 13
First Round: Tee times begin at 8:30 a.m.
NOTE: Lobos tee off at Hole No. 1 at 9:20 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 14
Second Round: Tee times began at 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 15
Final Round: Shotgun starts at 8 a.m.
17 TEAMS (Rankings – Golfweek): Arkansas, BYU, Baylor, No. 2 Georgia, Hawai’i, Kansas, No. 10 New Mexico, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, No. 5 Oklahoma State, No. 18 Pepperdine, TCU, No. 12 Texas A&M, Texas Tech, San Diego State, No. 16 UNLV, UTEP
10th-RANKED LOBOS LOOKING FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT DICK McGUIRE INVITATIONAL TITLE – The 10th-ranked New Mexico women’s golf team opens the 2004-05 season by hosting one of the premier collegiate tournaments in the country – the 26th annual Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational, Sept. 13-15 at the UNM Championship Course. The tournament features 17 teams, including six ranked in the Golfweek Preseason Top 25, and eight Golfweek preseason All-Americans. Live stats of the entire tournament will be available at www.GolfStat.com.
New Mexico will be shooting for its fourth consecutive Dick McGuire championship and fifth overall. The Lobos became the first school in McGuire history to win three straight titles last season, defeating second-place Oklahoma State by 16 strokes. UNM, which led the entire tournament, fired a course-record 295-281-295–871 for the three-day total, and also set course records for 36 holes (576) and 18 holes (271).
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The Lobos have won the last three Dick McGuire Invitationals. |
Senior Kailin Downs, a second-team preseason All-America selection, will look to defend the McGuire medalist honors she claimed in 2003. Downs tied a course record with a 7-under 212 (70-68-74) in last year’s McGuire in winning her first career tournament.
QUICK GLANCE AT THE LOBOS – The Lobos return three starters from last season’s record-breaking team that won four tournament titles and finished the season ranked No. 6.
Senior Kailin Downs, who set the UNM junior scoring-average mark last season with a 73.91 average, will be looking to topple Katrina Leckovic’s career scoring average of 75.34. After three years, Downs is at 74.29. Also returning to the lineup is 2004 Mountain West Freshman of the Year Ashley Rollins, who set the UNM freshman record with a 74.62 average her rookie season. Junior Christine Fernandez, the Lobos’ top finisher at the 2004 NCAA Championships, rounds out the returning starters.
Senior Christina Spence, a 2003 All-Mountain West honoree, looks to return to the starting lineup this season, along with newcomers Giselle Claux and Alexandra Phelps.
RIGHT WHERE WE BELONG – The New Mexico women’s golf team will start the 2004-05 season in familiar territory – ranked in the top 10 among the nation’s elite programs. The Lobos were ranked seventh in the Golf World preseason coaches poll and 10th in the Golfweek preseason rankings. UNM, which finished the 2003-04 season ranked sixth in the final Golfweek rankings, has been ranked in the top 10 since Sept. 29, 2003.
Two Lobos also racked up individual accolades. Senior Kailin Downs (Bend, Ore.) was named a Golfweek second-team preseason All-American and one of the top 50 players in the nation to watch by Golf World. This marks the second consecutive year that Downs has garnered preseason All-America honors. Downs is a two-time honorable mention All-American, a two-time Mountain West Player of the Year and has earned All-MWC honors all three years of her career.
Sophomore Ashley Rollins (Austin, Texas), the 2004 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, was named a third-team preseason All-American by Golf World. Rollins established a new freshman scoring-average record at UNM in her first season with a 74.62 average.
Defending NCAA champion UCLA topped both the Golf World and Golfweek polls. The remaining top 10 teams according to Golfweek are Georgia, Duke, Southern California, Oklahoma State, Auburn, Washington, Wake Forest and Stanford.
NATIONAL EXPOSURE – The Lobos finished the 2003-04 season ranked No. 6 in the Golf Week/Sagarin rankings. UNM was ranked as high as No. 3 last year, and was ranked in the top 10 for 33 consecutive weeks.
Individually, all five Lobo starters finished the season ranked in the top 100 (Kailin Downs – 32nd; Ashley Rollins – 52nd; Katrina Leckovic – 53rd; Shannon Johnson – T85th; Christine Fernandez – T85th).
PLAYER NOTES –
DOWNS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR – Senior Kailin Downs was named a Golfweek second-team preseason All-American for the second consecutive year. Downs has established herself as one of the nation’s premier collegiate golfers and solidified her national standing with an excellent summer of golf. She advanced to the round of 32 in match play at the 2004 U.S. Women’s Amateur and won two of her three matches in helping lead Team USA past Japan in the 2004 Fuji Xerox U.S. vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championships held July 16-18 in Ichihara, Japan.
Preseason All-American Kailin Downs |
Downs earned honorable mention All-America honors for the second straight season in 2003-04 after setting a new UNM junior record with a 73.91 scoring average. She also owns the sophomore record (74.1). Downs was the 2004 recipient of the Edith Cummings Munson Award, which is presented by the NGCA to an individual based on academic and athletic achievement. She boasted a 3.82 GPA in General Management to earn NGCA Scholar-Athlete honors for the third straight season and also earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-America third team.
Downs was named the MWC Women’s Golfer of the Month in September after winning her first career tournament at the Dick McGuire Invitational and Co-MWC Golfer of the Month in February after placing fourth at the Northrup Grumman Regional Challenge. She has won the award five times in her career. Downs was the only player in the conference to earn Golfer of the Month honors twice in 2002-03 (September and April). As a freshman, Downs garnered Golfer of the Month honors in October of 2001.
Downs finished the season ranked No. 32 in the nation by Golf Week and No. 29 by Golf Stat. In addition to her win at the McGuire, Downs placed in a tie for second at the Landfall Tradition and Dr. Thompson Rainbow Invitational. Overall, she has placed in the top-five on 12 occasions during her career.
ASHLEY’S ROLLIN’ – Sophomore Ashley Rollins, who made a splash onto the collegiate golf scene her freshman season, was named a third-team preseason All-American by Golfweek. Rollins lived up to the hype in her first season as a Lobo, establishing a new freshman record at UNM with a 74.62 scoring average and finishing the season ranked No. 52. For her efforts, she was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year and also earned All-MWC honors.
One of the top recruits in Coach Booth’s tenure, Rollins made the cut at the 2003 U.S. Women’s Amateur and won all four of her matches at the AJGA Canor Cup prior to attending UNM.
FERNANDEZ LOOKING FOR EVEN MORE – Junior Christine Fernandez was a welcome addition to the 2003-04 Lobo squad after transferring from the University of Tulsa. Fernandez finished in the top 10 in three tournaments last season, including a career-best tie for second at the Dr. Thompson Invitational in Hawai’i, where she shot a season-low round of 68 in the second round. She also placed in the top 10 at the Las Vegas Founders Women’s Collegiate Showdown and shot a season-low 219 to tie for ninth at the Mountain West Championships. The Las Vegas, Nev., native was the Lobos’ top finisher at the NCAA Championships, carding a 7-over 295 to tie for 33rd. Fernandez finished last season ranked No. 85 in the nation by Golf Week and No. 77 by Golf Stat, but after her impressive showing at the NCAA Championships, she’s ready to move up the national rankings this season.
SPENCE LOOKING TO GET BACK INTO THE LINEUP – Senior Christina Spence, who garnered All-MWC accolades in 2002-03, is looking to get back into the starting lineup after a year’s absence. Spence shot a career-best 221 at last fall’s Dick McGuire Invitational to tie for eighth place as an individual and started in one tournament (Ping/ASU Invitational). This season, Spence is ready to contribute as a starter in every tournament.
NEW ADDITION – Redshirt freshman Giselle Claux, a native of Lima, Peru, joined the Lobos for the 2004 spring season after sitting out fall competition. A talented golfer with international experience, Claux competed for the Peruvian National Team in several Junior South American tournaments. She placed fourth at the 2003 Junior South American tournament in Montevideo, Uruguay.
NEW ADDITION, Pt. 2 – Freshman Alexandra Phelps, a native of Albuquerque, is ready to contribute to her hometown Lobos. Phelps won the 2004 Class 5A state golf championship and also won the 2004 Albuquerque Women’s City Championship. She earned the Albuquerque Tribune Lighthouse Award/Athlete of the Year for girl’s golf in 2004.
SEASON OUTLOOK:
LOBOS LOOKING TO CONTINUE SUCCESS OF 2003-04 – The 2004-05 New Mexico women’s golf team is looking to sustain the momentum the program has built in its unprecedented run over the last decade and maintain its ascent into the national spotlight. The Lobos have always been a national power – they own 13 conference championships, 12 NCAA Championships appearances and 12 consecutive postseason berths – but in the last five years, the program has risen to elite status. UNM has won four of the five Mountain West Conference championships and has won 10 tournament titles in the last three seasons. Last year, the Lobos provided the program with one of the most successful seasons in school history – they claimed four tournament victories, placed in the top 10 in 10 of their 11 tournaments, and again led the Mountain West with four all-conference honorees. The Lobos were ranked in the top 10 for 33 consecutive weeks, peaking at No. 3, and finished the season ranked No. 6 in the final Golf Week standings.
But the Lobos – as always – are still hungry for more hardware. This year’s lineup is loaded with experience and young talent eager to show they belong among the nation’s elite teams.
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The Lobos have won 10 tournaments in the last three years. |
Three starters return from last season’s squad, led by two-time honorable mention All-American Kailin Downs. Downs, a senior, has already established herself as one of the most prolific golfers in UNM history while rewriting much of the record book. She owns the UNM sophomore record with a 74.1 scoring-average mark and set the junior record last season with an average of 73.91. Now, she has her eyes set on the UNM career scoring-average record of 75.34, established by departing senior Katrina Leckovic in 2003-04. Downs’ current career average is 74.29.
In addition to her impressive scoring average, Downs won medalist honors for the first time in her career at the 2003 Dick McGuire Invitational. A two-time Mountain West Player of the Year, Downs earned all-conference accolades for the third straight season in 2003-04 while being ranked No. 32 in the nation.
Downs enjoyed an excellent summer season in gearing up for the 2004-05 campaign. She was one of four collegiate golfers selected to represent the United States in the 2004 U.S. vs. Japan Collegiate Championships, and she responded by winning two of her three matches in helping to lead the U.S. to its ninth straight victory. She also qualified for match play at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championships, advancing to the round of 32.
“Kailin’s goal is certainly to win more tournaments,” said head coach Jackie Booth. “Getting that first win is always the toughest, and then having the confidence to know you’ve done it will help her more even this year. She has definitely been the trendsetter and the record-setter in her time at UNM, but she has the capability to get even better.
“She really enjoyed the Japan trip – it was a great experience for her. She learned a lot about playing with the top players in the nation instead of against them. And making the U.S. Women’s Amateur is quite an accomplishment, not to mention making the cut and winning her first match. It’s pretty impressive.”
Junior Christine Fernandez, who transferred from Tulsa after her freshman year, showed promise in her first season as a Lobo in 2003-04. Fernandez placed in the top 20 in five tournaments last season, including a team-best score of 295 at the NCAA Championships. She also posted a career-best finish with a second-place showing at the Dr. Thompson Rainbow Invitational.
“Christine had her best tournament at nationals last year,” said Booth. “I’m hoping she takes that and brings it into this year knowing she’s one of our top players. She definitely has the ability, no question. At the end of last season she really started feeling comfortable with who she was on the team, and I see her stepping up even more this season.”
Sophomore Ashley Rollins earned a starting spot on last year’s record-breaking team as a true freshman. At the beginning of last season, Booth said Rollins was one of the most talented players she has ever signed. Rollins lived up to the billing.
She established a new freshman scoring record with a 74.62 average and was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year. In addition, she garnered all-conference honors and was named a NGCA Scholar-Athlete, the equivalent to Academic All-America status. Rollins placed in the top 10 in three tournaments and finished the year ranked No. 52 in the country.
“For her to make every trip last year was outstanding,” remarked Booth. “It has to give her a lot of confidence being named the Freshman of the Year. Physically, she has all the talent in the world, and this year I think she will be even tougher mentally, which will make her that much better as a player. She’s a great player, and I feel lucky to have her on our team.”
Almost a bonus to this year’s lineup will be senior Christina Spence. Spence was named to the 2003 All-Mountain West team after placing a career-high fourth at the conference championships, but fell victim to last year’s record-breaking loaded lineup, and qualified for just one tournament. She still improved her scoring average, however, and placed eighth as an individual with a career-best score of 221 at the Dick McGuire Invitational. Now she’s ready to get back into the lineup after a successful offseason.
“Christina’s really motivated to stay in the lineup this season,” Booth said. “I contribute our success last year to her – she pushed those top five every qualifying round. Last year really motivated her to work hard this summer. She’s definitely going to come back and be a contributor to this team. I’m excited to see her in the lineup – she’s a real team member and she’s out there for everybody.”
Rounding out the squad are two talented freshmen: Giselle Claux and Alexandra Phelps.
Claux redshirted last season after arriving from Lima, Peru, in the spring of 2004. Claux represented Peru in several Junior South American tournaments and gained valuable experience while training last year with one of the top teams in the nation.
“To be able to play and practice with the team last year was a real good experience for Giselle,” said Booth. “She knows what it takes, it’s just a matter of doing it. She came from a different country, speaking a different language, and started playing some of the top players in the country right away. She tackled a lot last semester, and I believe that experience will translate into success this year.”
Phelps is a homegrown talent from Albuquerque. She capped an impressive year by winning the 2004 Class 5A golf championship and the Albuquerque Women’s City Championship. For her efforts, she earned the Albuquerque Tribune Athlete of the Year for girl’s golf.
“Winning the city championship should give her the confidence that she belongs with this group,” Booth said. “She hits the ball a mile, but she just doesn’t have the experience. But once we throw her into this group, she’ll come out just fine.”
Booth is excited to showcase her gifted group of players at the nation’s most prestigious tournaments this season.
The Lobos begin the season by hosting the 26th annual Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational, which has maintained its excellence as one of the elite tournaments in the nation. UNM then goes to the NCAA Preview in Sunriver, Ore., site of the 2005 Mountain West and NCAA Championships. Before traveling to the NCAA Matchplay Championships in Florida to close out the fall season, UNM will play in tournaments at the Stanford Invitational and the Landfall Tradition.
The spring season picks up right where the fall left off, starting with the 2005 Regional Challenge. Also included in the spring is the Lady Gamecock Classic, featuring the best teams in the East, and the Ping/ASU Invitational, featuring the best teams in the West.
“Our schedule, which was already tough in year’s past, is even stronger this season,” Booth said. “It’s going to be difficult, but with last year’s background of knowing we can win, it will help us go into the top tournaments with confidence. I like the fact that we’re going to play the best teams in the nation every tournament we’re in.”
With the combination of a challenging
schedule, experienced veterans and talented freshmen, coach Booth believes her team is ready for another run at the top of the national rankings.
“I think we will be very successful this year, especially with the group we have coming back,” Booth said. “They know what our weaknesses are, and they will help us improve on that this season. They also know what it takes to win, and I think experience is one of the best teachers.
“Advancing to nationals was a big step for us last year, but the season didn’t end the way we would’ve liked. But we accomplished so much in winning four tournaments and being ranked in the top 10 all year, and we’ll definitely take what we learned at the end of last season into this season.”
2003-04 SEASON REVIEW:
The 2003-04 New Mexico women’s golf team provided the Lobo program with one of the most successful seasons in school history. The Lobos claimed four tournament titles and placed in the top 10 in 10 of their 11 tournaments. UNM achieved national recognition, ranking in the top 10 for 33 consecutive weeks, including a lofty No. 3 rating in March. New Mexico steamrolled into the postseason for the 12th consecutive year with a No. 4 seed, and made its 12th appearance at the NCAA Championships, tying for 15th at the nation’s elite tournament.
Individually, the Lobos again racked up several accolades. Katrina Leckovic, Kailin Downs, Shannon Johnson and Ashley Rollins were named to the All-Mountain West Conference team, and Rollins was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year. Downs earned MWC Golfer of the Month honors twice (September and February), and Leckovic captured the award in November.
Downs established herself as one of the nation’s premier collegiate golfers, garnering honorable mention All-America honors for the second straight season in addition to receiving the 2004 Edith Cummings Munson Golf Award, which is presented by the NGCA to an individual based on academic and athletic achievement.
Leckovic, a senior, claimed the UNM career scoring-average record by compiling a 75.34 average during her three years, besting the previous mark of 75.8. The Burnaby, British Columbia native, who was one of eight players selected to the Canadian Ladies’ Golf Association National Amateur Team in February, also set the senior scoring-average mark with a 74.65.
In the final Golf Week rankings, UNM finished No. 6 in the nation with a 73.27 rating. All five Lobo starters finished the season ranked in the top 100 (Downs – 32nd; Rollins – 52nd; Leckovic – 53rd; Johnson – T85th; Christine Fernandez – T85th).
The Lobos wrapped up the fall season with three tournament titles and two individuals taking medalist honors. The Lobos claimed the Dick McGuire Invitational (Sept. 25-27) at their home course in Albuquerque, the Landfall Tradition (Oct. 31-Nov. 2) in Wilmington, N.C., and the Las Vegas Vegas Founders Women’s Collegiate Showdown (Nov. 10-12) in Henderson, Nev. UNM repeated as champions of the Vegas Showdown and won its third consecutive McGuire Invitational.
Downs tied the 54-hole record at the McGuire Invitational with a score of 70-68-74–212 (-7) en route to claiming her first career individual championship. Leckovic took home her second career title with a two-stroke win at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown.
The Lobos also had strong showings at their other two tournaments. New Mexico opened the season at the NCAA Preview (Sept. 12-14) in Opelika, Ala., site of the 2004 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships. The tournament gave the Lobos a chance to play the difficult course 25. The Lobos finished strong in the last round of the tournament to finish ninth overall. UNM placed fifth at the Stanford Intercollegiate Oct. 17-19.
New Mexico picked up right where it left off in the fall in its four spring tournaments. The Lobos began the spring by placing second in the highly loaded Regional Challenge field, finishing ahead of five top-10 teams. After their impressive performance at the Regional Challenge (Feb. 9-11), the Lobos vaulted to No. 3 in the national rankings. UNM responded to the ranking with a convincing 29-stroke win at the Dr. Thompson Rainbow Invitational (March 16-17) in Hawai’i. The Lobos placed third at the Ping/Arizona State Invitational (April 2-4) in their next tournament.
Although the Lobos came up short in their quest for a fifth straight Mountain West title, they did place second in the MWC Championships after shooting a season-best 858 overall and 277 in the final round. UNM was a rewarded with a No. 4 seed in the 63-team NCAA field.
Four Lobos were rewarded for their efforts and earned All-Mountain West honors. Downs and Leckovic each made the team for the third straight year, while Johnson garnered all-conference honors for the second year in a row. Rollins was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year in addition to earning All-MWC accolades.
After their remarkable regular season, the Lobos marched in the postseason for the 12th consecutive year, only this time, they had a target on their back. UNM entered the 63-team NCAA field as the No. 4 overall seed, the highest in school history.
New Mexico, the second-highest seeded team in the Central Regional, led after the first day of competition, and appeared to be coasting toward the NCAA Championships. The second day proved difficult for UNM, however, and the Lobos fell into a tie for seventh. Needing to place in the top eight to reach nationals, the Lobos gutted out a clutch third-day performance, remaining in seventh to reach yet another team goal – advancing to the NCAA Championships.
The Lobos were poised to show the country the team’s ability at nationals, and were determined to make a statement in front of a national audience. UNM made a serious run on day two, and completed the second round in ninth place, within striking distance of a top-five finish. Unfortunately, the Lobos fell out of the top-10 on the third day, and finished the championships in a tie for 15th place.
Although the Lobos fell short of their ultimate goal of a national championship, the team was well recognized at the end of the season. Downs, who set a junior record at UNM with a 73.91 scoring average, garnered honorable mention All-America honors for the second straight season, and also received the prestigious Edith Cummings Munson Golf Award at the national awards banquet. She was also named a NGCA Scholar-Athlete for the third straight year in addition to being selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-America third team. Rollins, who established a UNM freshman record with a 74.62 scoring average, also earned NGCA Scholar-Athlete honors.
While the 2003-04 season was filled with tournament victories and numerous player honors, the future looks even brighter for New Mexico. The Lobos return three of their four starters for the 2004-05 season and have added exceptional depth to the lineup with solid recruiting. The nation began to recognize the staying power of the Lobo program in 2003-04, and the highly ranked Lobos aren’t about to begin falling out of the national spotlight anytime soon.