April 16, 2010
The second round was not as good as the first, but the 21st-ranked New Mexico Lobos were able to hold onto the lead at the Mountain West Conference Women’s Golf Championships in Seaside, Calif.
After shooting a 6-over 294 on Thursday, UNM fell to a 303 today, but still has an 11-shot lead over TCU and Colorado State heading into Saturday’s final round at the Black Horse Golf Course (par 72, 6,009 yards). The Lobos have a 36-hole total of 597 (294-303). The Horned Frogs and Rams are at 608. No. 22 TCU had the low round of the day at 298.
New Mexico is seeking its third straight MWC team title and seventh in the past 11 seasons.
While Lobos Rebecca Hellbom and Jodi Ewart remain atop the individual leaderboard, it was sophomore Sarah Salvo who provided a huge boost for UNM today.
On a day when the average score was 77.9, Salvo carved out a career-best 72. She was the only golfer in the 35-player field to shoot par and it came one day after she suffered through an 88, which is the worst round of her Lobo career.
When UNM’s lead dipped below 10 strokes late in the round, it was Salvo to the rescue with birdies at 15 and 16 to keep the challengers at bay. Salvo is tied for 26th place at 160.
Hellbom shot 2-over 74 for a 36-hole total of 145 (71-74) and a one-shot lead over Ewart (71-75=146). The teammates were tied at 1-over through 16 holes, however, a three-shot swing occurred at 17 after Hellbom made birdie and Ewart had a double bogey. The pendulum swung back in Ewart’s favor at 18 when she made a birdie 4 and Hellbom took a 6.
Hellbom is seeking her first collegiate win while Ewart is after her third MWC individual title (also 2007 and ’08) and the fifth medalist honor of her spectacular career at UNM.
TCU’s Rachel Raastad is also in the hunt at 147 (73-74).
New Mexico senior Britney Choy and freshman Bethany Buchner each shot 82. Choy is tied for 15th at 11-over 155 (73-82) while Buchner sits in 28th at 161 (79-82).
New Mexico, Colorado State and TCU tee off from No. 10 Saturday between 8:30 and 9:10 a.m. MDT.