Nov. 2, 2005
New Mexico freshman Mikaela Backstedt has been named the Mountain West Conference Women’s Golfer of the Month for October. This marks the second straight month that she has received the monthly honor.
The Hollviken, Sweden, native recorded back-to-back top-10 finishes during the month of October, including taking medalist honors at the Price’s Give `Em Five Intercollegiate (Oct. 17-18). In six rounds of play, she recorded a 72.67 stroke average. She currently paces the MWC in stroke average (72.42) and ranks No. 25 in the country, according to the Oct. 31 Golfweek rankings.
At the Price’s Give `Em Five Intercollegiate, Backstedt birdied the first playoff hole to win the individual title after shooting a 3-under 213 (71-69-73). The 19-year-old became the first freshman in the history of New Mexico women’s golf to win a tournament and the first Lobo, regardless of classification, to claim a title since senior Katrina Leckovic captured the 2003 UNLV Invitational.
Backstedt and the University of San Francisco’s Jessica Potter each finished 54 holes at 3-under 213. Backstedt set up the winning birdie by knocking her approach shot within eight feet on the par-4 10th hole, while Potter made par.
Backstedt tied for eighth at The Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, N.C., Oct. 28-30, with a 223 (74-74-75). The Landfall Tradition field featured three teams in the top 25.