June 9, 2010
The University of New Mexico women’s golf team completed an outstanding season by tying for 16th place at the NCAA Championships May 18-21 in Wilmington, N.C. UNM also won its third straight Mountain West Conference team title. New Mexico finished the season ranked 18th in the nation by GolfStat.com and No. 20 in the Golfweek/Sagarin poll.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS REVIEW – The final round of the 29th NCAA Women’s Golf Championships had several storylines for the University of New Mexico. It was certainly about the Lobos setting a school record for lowest 72-hole total in 15 finals appearances at 1189. And, it was also about UNM enjoying its best finish at the Championships in six years, landing in tie for 16th in the 24-team field.
However, it was also about two seniors – English native Jodi Ewart and Hawaiian Britney Choy – who came to UNM and Albuquerque some 45 months ago as unknown, but promising freshman golfers.
They grew up more than 7,200 miles apart – or nearly 12,000 kilometers if you’re familiar with the metric system like Ewart – and were as opposite as two people could be.
“Jodi is so quiet on the course and in real life, you would think she is an introvert, but she is not,” said UNM head coach Jill Trujillo. “She is all about the team, constantly pushing her teammates to practice more, grabbing our freshman, Beth Buchner, by the hand and saying, `Let’s do it this way.’ Her subtlety and her leadership are so opposite from Britney. Britney is very vocal.”
Ewart and Choy part as best friends who leave a winning legacy that future Lobos can only hope to duplicate: Three straight Mountain West Conference titles and three trips to the NCAA Championships.
“There are so many memories; the golf, my teammates, my coaches, memories everyday,” said Ewart. “I am going to miss my teammates and competing.”
“Jodi will be remembered as the best golfer that has come through UNM, hands down,” said head coach Jill Trujillo.
It was fitting that Ewart’s last stroke as a Lobo and as a collegiate player was a 10-foot birdie putt that made a beeline to the middle of the cup at No. 18. That scenario looked unlikely after she left her tee shot in front of a fairway bunker.
“I knew I wanted to birdie the last hole of my amateur career,” explained Ewart. “I didn’t hit the greatest tee shot. I knew it was going to have to be a three-shot hole (to make birdie). I just looked at the putt and knew it was going in.”
Ewart’s birdie gave her a 73 and a four-day total of 1-over 289 (73-71-72-73), which is the second lowest 72-hole by a Lobo at the NCAA Championships. She finished in a tie for 15th.
“As Jodi finished in the group behind me, I ran down to the No. 18 green to give her and Jill (Trujillo) the biggest hugs I could give,” said Choy. “It was definitely a special moment that all three of us shared because it was a last time for a lot of things.”
“I have become more mature and independent in the past four years,” said Ewart. “I came from a little town in England. Now, I’m ready to take on the professional ranks.”
Ewart’s professional career began June 4 on the Futures Tour in hopes of earning her Tour card without going through Q-school. She graduated from UNM in May with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a 3.70 cumulative grade-point-average.
Choy will graduate in December with a degree in Communications. She will also pursue a career in professional golf. She had a 74 in her final round at UNM, tying for 54th at 298 (74-75-75-74).
As for the Lobo underclassmen, sophomore Rebecca Hellbom ended at 303 (80-76-73-74) and in a tie for 82nd place. Sophomore Sarah Salvo (78-74-75-77) and freshman Bethany Buchner (78-77-75-74) each finished in a tie for 86th at 304 (+16).
Purdue beat Southern California by one shot to claim the team title while Oklahoma State’s Caroline Hedwall was the individual winner at 12-under 276 (70-70-68-68).
WHAT A CAREER FOR Jodi Ewart – Jodi Ewart is not only the most accomplished women’s golfer at the University of New Mexico, but she is one of the most decorated student-athletes to attend UNM. Ewart’s career highlights at the University of New Mexico:
4-time Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, the only student-athlete in any MWC sport to be recognized four times
Program’s first 3-time All-American (2007, `09 and `10)
3-time MWC Championships individual medalist (2007, `08, `10)
Holds UNM’s top-3 season scoring averages: 72.12 in 2009-10, 72.68 in 2008-09 and 73.35 in 2006-07
Lobos’ career scoring leader (73.11)
School-record 5 tournament wins
23 top-10 finishes
2nd-lowest 72-hole total by a Lobo at the NCAA Championships (289)
127 rounds, 2nd-most in school history
HEAD COACH Jill Trujillo – A 1990 UNM graduate and women’s golf letterwinner from 1987-90, Jill Trujillo is in her third season in charge of the women’s golf program. Trujillo has led New Mexico to five team titles, including three consecutive Mountain West Conference championships in 2008 (2008-10). She was named the 2007-08 MWC Coach of the Year. The Lobos finished 22nd at the NCAA Championships in 2007, 19th in 2009 and tied for 16th in 2010.
LOBOS WIN 3RD STRAIGHT MWC CHAMPIONSHIP – Jodi Ewart shot a 1-under 71 to win her school-record fifth individual title and lead 21st-ranked New Mexico to its third straight Mountain West Conference championship. The Lobos finished with a 54-hole total of 898 (294-303-301), nine shots better than TCU at the Black Horse Golf Course (par 72, 6,009 yards) on California’s Monterey Peninsula.
Ewart won her third MWC individual title (2007, `08, `10) while New Mexico has won seven of the 11 conference championships since the MWC started in 2000.
Making two birdies on the back nine, Ewart was the only golfer in the 35-player field to break par in the final round. She finished with a 1-over 217 (71-75-71), while setting an MWC record for largest winning margin, four shots ahead of TCU’s Rachel Raastad (221). UNM sophomore Rebecca Hellbom shot 77 to finish third at 222 (71-74-77).
Ewart was also named MWC Player of the Year for the fourth straight season. She is the first student-athlete in any MWC sport to earn the award four times.
“I was just steady most of the day,” said Ewart of her final round. It’s a huge honor to be named MWC player of the year again because there have been so many great players the past four years.”
New Mexico began the day with an 11-stroke advantage over TCU and Colorado State. The Horned Frogs cut the Lobo lead to six shots midway through the round, but could get no closer.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the team,” said head coach Jill Trujillo. “We just grinded it out the last two days. The first round (294 and a 12-shot lead) turned out to be the clincher. That gave us a lead that we were able to maintain. I just can’t say enough about Jodi. It could be a long time before someone else comes along and matches what she has done in four years at UNM.”
Hellbom had a 1-shot lead over Ewart after nine holes, but Hellbom bogeyed 10, 11 and 12 and could never catch her teammate. It’s the second straight third-place finish for Hellbom, who has a superb 71.83 scoring average over her last six rounds. She joined Ewart on the all-MWC team.
New Mexico senior Britney Choy tied for 19th at 235 (73-82-80). Freshman Bethany Buchner shot 75 – her best round of the tournament – to finish in 23rd at 236 (79-82-75). Sophomore Sarah Salvo tied for 24th at 238 (88-72-78).