Sept. 9, 2010
Lobo Women’s Golf – Fall Schedule
Sept 13-14: Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic – Fort Collins, Colo.
Sept. 17-18: Branch Law Firm Dick McGuire Invitational – UNM Championship Course
Oct. 4-5: Windy City Classic – Highland Park, Ill.
Oct. 25-27: Las Vegas Showdown – Boulder City, Nev.
By Richard Stevens — Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
It’s golf without All-American Jodi Ewart for the New Mexico Lobos in 2010-11, but the process and the program called Lobos golf keeps on ticking. This New Mexico program once again swings for excellence as other Lobos step up and hungrily eye a fourth consecutive Mountain West Conference crown in 2011.
“You lose seniors and life goes on,” said UNM junior Sarah Salvo. “That’s part of the process. Maybe everyone has more of a piece of the responsibility this season, but we are expecting to go out and have a good year.”
There are plenty of reasons to expect success on the links for a Jill Trujillo program. Really, that’s all the Lobos have experienced
since Trujillo took over three seasons back. Trujillo’s Lobos have
been outstanding in the classroom and on the green stuff.
Trujillo, a former Lobo, has led UNM to five team titles and three
straight league crowns. Her Lobos finished 22nd at the 2007 NCAA
Championships, 19th in 2009 and tied for 16th in 2010 – UNM’s best
finish in six years.
It’s a young crop of Lobos in 2010-11, but
Trujillo sees enough talent to defend that MWC title and return to
the NCAA Promised Land.
“We have a young team, but they are fighters,” said Trujillo, a
1990 UNM graduate. “We may have to gut a few tournaments out this
season, but I think we have the girls to do it.”
The top returnees this season of the links are juniors Rebecca Hellbom and Salvo,and sophomore Bethany Buchner.
Hellbom is the top returnee based on the final 2010 stats with a 74.91 scoring
average. Salvo came in at 77.42 and Buchner’s card averaged 78.3.
That trio was on the 2009-10 traveling squad along with Ewart and ex-
Lobo Britney Choy.
|
“Maybe everyone has more of a piece of the responsibility this season.” |
Ewart obviously is the big loss. She has to go down as the best
women’s golfer in UNM history and is the only MWC athlete in any
sport to be named Athlete of The Year four times. She also was the
league’s 2009-10 Women’s Athlete of The Year.
“Your team is impacted anytime you lose seniors and not just
because they may or may not be your best golfers,” said Trujillo.
“You also have to replace their maturity and leadership.
“We have some solid golfers back and we have three really good
freshmen. Our starting five will be a challenge all year. They are
that good.”
The rookies to Lobo golf are freshmen Manon de Roey, Sofia Hoglund
and Sammi Stevens. UNM also returns senior Jordan Kennon and junior
Erin Miller.
Stevens, from Hereford, Texas, comes to the UNM program as the
reigning Albuquerque City Women’s Amateur champ and the Texas-
Oklahoma Junior champion. Trujillo said she expects all three freshmen to challenge for a spot on the 2010-11 traveling squad.
Junior Sarah Salvo |
“Jodi led the team last year and we have some golfers capable of
stepping into that role,” said Trujillo. “But it might be different
for us this year because we have such balance and eight players who
are capable of scoring for us.
“It’s nice to have that one player, who is consistent, but you always want five good scores. We are going to have some very, very good rounds this year and,
because of our youth, we’ll probably have a few hiccup rounds. But I
don’t expect many because these girls are good.”
One thing Trujillo needs and expects is for some upper class Lobos
to step up and lead by example on and off the course. Hellbom said she is ready to make a move.
“I had the second-best scoring average on the team last year, so I
feel I’m a player who should take the lead,” said Hellbom, who was a
MWC Golfer of The Month last season.
“It’s not that there is pressure on me to do that, but I want to
do it. We might not have a leader who is outspoken, but the older
players on this team know how to do this. I think this year will help
me improve on the mental side because I have to be a leader.”
The Lobos’ goal in 2010-11 is to work hard at the process that
will make them better as a team and as individuals. That means work
hard and put in the effort it takes to shoot for another MWC title as well as entrance into the NCAA tourney.
| Name | Yr. | Hometown |
<=”” href=”http://www.golobos.com/sports/w-golf/mtt/buchner_bethany00.html?DB_OEM_ID=26000″>Bethany Buchner=””>So.Loveland, Colo.
Manon de RoeyFr.Schilde, Belgium
<=”” href=”/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=26000&ATCLID=209094064″>Rebecca Hellbom=””>Jr.Vasteras, Sweden
<=”” href=”/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=26000&ATCLID=209076820″>Sofia Hoglund=””>Fr.Kokkola, Finland
<=”” href=”/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=26000&ATCLID=209094077″>Jordan Kennon=””>Sr.Deming, N.M.
<=”” href=”/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=26000&ATCLID=209094069″>Erin Miller=””>Jr.El Paso, Texas
<=”” href=”/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=26000&ATCLID=209094083″>Sarah Salvo=””>Jr.Glendale, Calif.
<=”” href=”/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=26000&ATCLID=209076824″>Sammi Stevens=””>Fr.Hereford, Texas
“When we won the (MWC) title last year, the seniors looked at us
and said, `You guys have to continue it,'” said Salvo. “I think we
have a strong shot at the title.”
Of course, the shot at that titles hinges, in part, on what the Lobos who
did not travel last year can bring to the table – and to the
scorecards – in 2010-11. There is a lot of youth and inexperience
looking to make the five-Lobo traveling squad. The top four scores
for a round form a team’s total that day.
“I haven’t been with this team in competition yet, so it remains
to be seen who will rise to the occasion, who will be mentally
tough,” said the Lobo coach.
“There always is a challenge with new
players, to see how they will mesh, to see how they will react in
tournament competition.
“None of these players like to lose and the conference
championship is a big deal for us. I think they can do it.”
Editor’s Note: Richard Stevens is a former Associate Sports Editor and Sports Columnist for The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net.