Feb. 13, 2006
The 23rd-ranked University of New Mexico women’s golf team got off to a slow start today at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes, Calif. The Lobos, playing short-handed in their first tournament of the spring season, shot a 39-over 323 at the par-71, 5,912-yard Palos Verdes Country Club.
UNM is last out of a competitive 14-team field that features 13 schools ranked in the Golfweek top-25 poll. No. 9 Arizona State has the first-round lead at 9-over 293 followed by Cal and Southern California at 296.
Competing without freshman sensation and top golfer Mikaela Backstedt, who is out with a broken left thumb, the Lobos had just four players available. Teams normally use five golfers with the low four scores counting towards the overall team total. Backstedt had a fall scoring average of 72.42.
Sophomore Giselle Claux had the best round for UNM, shooting a 6-over 77 to tie for 33rd. Sophomore Alexandra Phelps was at 7-over 78, followed by freshmen Py Bengtsson (80, +9) and Morgan Grantham (88, +17).
The second round gets underway Tuesday morning. Complete results, along with live scoring for the final two rounds, are available at www.golfstat.com.