April 22, 2006
Final Results in PDF Format
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The Lobos came close to a sweep, but in the end it was UNLV taking home most of the hardware at the Mountain West Confence Women’s Golf Championships. The Rebels staved off New Mexico down the stretch to win their third straight title today at the Entrada at Snow Canyon Course in St. George, Utah.
Playing with three freshmen and two sophomores, the Lobos put a brief scare into UNLV. Trailing by four shots after two rounds, UNM cut the Rebels’ lead in half early, but could never get any closer. New Mexico finished with a team total of 900 after shooting a 14-over 302 today. UNLV was five shots better at 895. BYU was third at 907.
The chase for the individual crown was even closer than the competition for the team trophy. In a battle of freshmen, UNLV’s Da Sol Chung made birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat Lobos Mikaela Backstedt and Py Bengtsson. The trio finished 54 holes tied at 6-over 222. Backstedt and Bengtsson both made par on the extra hole.
The playoff was forced after Chung bogeyed 17 and 18 and Bengtsson also had a 5 on the par-4 18th. Backstedt actually had a two-shot lead earlier in the day, but a mid-round swoon dropped her out of the lead. She finished with a 5-over 77.
Backstedt and Bengtsson were both named to the all-conference team while Backstedt joined Chung as co-MWC Freshman of the Year.
Backstedt started the day at 1-over for the tournament and got back to even after a birdie on No. 2. Leading the pack by two shots, she then dropped seven shots over an eight-hole span before making birdie on the par-4 15th.
UNM’s top three finishers were all freshmen as Morgan Grantham tied her collegiate low with a 2-over 74. She tied for 14th place at 230.
Sophomore Alexandra Phelps shot 77 and finished tied for 17th at 231. Fellow sophomore Giselle Claux came in with a 78. She had a three-round total of 236, tying for the 23rd spot.
The Lobos will find out their NCAA Regional destination on Monday, May 1. Regionals will be held May 11-13 at Browns Summit, N.C. (Wake Forest), College Station, Texas (Texas A&M) and Auburn, Wash. (U. of Washington).