April 19, 2007
The 16th-ranked University of New Mexico women’s golf team finds itself in a large hole after one round of the Mountain West Conference Championships being played in St. George, Utah. The Lobos shot a 30-over-par 314 on the par-71, 6,210-yard Entrada at Snow Canyon course. UNM is third in the seven-team field, but trails first-round leader BYU by 20 shots. The 15th-ranked Cougars have a six-shot lead over No. 24 TCU. Live scoring and complete results are available at www.golfstat.com.
Today’s total of 314 is the Lobos’ highest team score of the 2006-07 season. They shot a 310 in the second round of the UCF Challenge last month in Orlando, Fla. The last three holes proved decisive for UNM today as its top four players lost 10 shots to par coming home.
Freshman Jodi Ewart and junior Alexandra Phelps led New Mexico, each shooting 6-over 77. Sophomore Py Bengtsson was 1-over through 14, but double bogeyed each of the last three holes to finish with a 79. Sophomore Mikaela Backstedt was hurt by two triple bogeys and was at 10-over 81. Junior Giselle Claux was 7-over after four holes and finished with an 83.
No player broke par on the demanding course. BYU’s Rachel Newren and TCU’s Catherine Matranga share the individual lead after shooting 1-over 72.
UNM has never finished lower than second in seven previous MWC championships, winning the first four titles from 2000-03. UNLV has taken the past three team crowns.
Second-round action gets underway Friday at 10 a.m.