April 19, 2008
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico got off to a rocky start, but finished strong to run away with the 2008 Mountain West Conference women’s golf championship played at the UNM Championship Course (par 73, 6,167 yards).
The Lobos posted a 54-hole total of 888 (12-over-par) to easily outdistance BYU by 19 strokes. The Cougars trimmed the UNM lead to eight shots early in the final round, but New Mexico got back on track to claim its first MWC title since 2003.
The Mountain West Conference announced its all-conference team and individual awards at the conclusion of the championship. New Mexico
sophomore Jodi Ewart and TCU sophomore Valentine Derrey were named the Co-Players of the Year, while UNLV’s Therese
Koelbaek earned Freshman of the Year honors. New Mexico head coach Jill Trujillo was selected the Coach of the Year. Mikaela Backstedt and Britney Choy were also named to the all-conference squad.
“I couldn’t be more happy for the team today,” said Trujillo, a 1990 UNM grad and in her first full season as the Lobos’ head coach. “We fought through some early adversity today. It was a total team effort.”
Aided by three birdies on the final four holes, Ewart snared the individual title for the second straight year. She had a 1-under 72 today to finish at 219, two shots better than teammate Morgan Grantham and BYU’s Natalia Jimenez.
Ewart is the first golfer in MWC history to win back-to-back individual titles. She is also the first New Mexico golfer to accomplish the feat since the program started in 1977.
Grantham enjoyed her best tournament as a Lobo. After four bogeys in the first seven holes, the UNM junior finished her round with three birdies for a 1-over 74 and a tournament total of 219. Grantham had never placed higher than 14th in 18 previous collegiate tournaments.
UNM sophomore Britney Choy entered the final round with the lead and had a one-shot advantage over the field through 11 holes. However, she suffered four bogeys over a five-hole stretch to finish tied for fourth at 223. Choy had a 78 today.
Junior Mikaela Backstedt finished tied for sixth at 227 while senior Alexandra Phelps was 18th at 234.
The Lobos captured their 14th overall conference championship since 1982, and it’s the fifth title in nine seasons for UNM in Mountain West Conference play. New Mexico won four straight MWC championships from 2000-03.
By winning the MWC title, New Mexico has earned its 16th straight berth to NCAA postseason competition. The Lobos will play at one of three NCAA Regional sites May 8-10, either Athens, Ga., Austin, Texas, or Sacramento, Calif. The regional fields will be announced by the NCAA on April 28.
The 2008 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships will be held right back here at the UNM Championship Course May 20-23.
2008 Mountain West Conference Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Jill Trujillo, New Mexico
Co-Players of the Year: Jodi Ewart, New Mexico; Valentine Derrey, TCU
Freshman of the Year: Therese Koelbaek, UNLV
All-Conference Team
Juli Erekson, BYU
Natalia Jimenez, BYU
Mikaela Backstedt, New Mexico
Britney Choy, New Mexico
Jodi Ewart, New Mexico
Valentine Derrey, TCU
Therese Koelbaek, UNLV
Natasha Krishna, UNLV