Oct. 3, 2010
The University of New Mexico women’s golf team is back on the links this week when it participates in the Windy City Collegiate Classic. The 11-team field plays 36 holes Monday and the final round Tuesday at the Northmoor Country Club (par 71, 6,108 yards) in Highland Park, Ill. Northwestern University is the host. Live stats will be available at GolfStat.com. UNM is ranked 39th in the latest Golf World Coaches’ poll.
THE COMPETITORS – The 11-team field includes UNM, Central Florida, East Carolina, Iowa State, Northwestern, Purdue, San Diego State, TCU, Texas Tech, UNC Greensboro and UNC Wilmington. In the latest Golf World Coaches’ poll, Purdue is ranked No. 9 and TCU No. 35.
LOBO LINEUP – Head coach Manon de Roey and Sammi Stevens.
LAST YEAR AT THE WINDY CITY – It wasn’t the Lobos’ day in the final round of last year’s tournament in Glenview, Ill. No. 17 UNM shot a final round 24-over 312 on the par-72, 6,538-yard Glen Club golf course to finish in a sixth place tie with Michigan.
New Mexico began the final round 19 shots behind Purdue and in third place. The Boilermakers widened that gap to 35 strokes while defending their title in the 15-team field with a 54-hole total of 860.
Lobo senior Jodi Ewart had a top-10 finish, shooting a 1-over 217 (72-71-74) and placing in a three-way tie for sixth.
UNM senior Britney Choy tied for 35th at 11-over 227 (72-74-81) while sophomore Sarah Salvo came in at 228 (74-74-80), tying for 42nd. Sophomore Rebecca Hellbom tied for 47th at 230 (75-71-84) followed by freshman Bethany Buchner at 231 (77-77-77), tying for 54th.
Purdue has won the tournament the past two years while the Boilermakers’ Maude-Aimee LeBlanc returns to defend her individual title (5-under 211).
BRANCH LAW FIRM RECAP – The Lobos finished in 10th place at the 31st Branch Law Firm Dick McGuire Invitational at the University of New Mexico Championship Course (par-73, 6,187 yards) Sept. 17-18. UNM had a 54-hole total of 913 (314-299-300).
Led by surprising Erica Omlid and defending McGuire champion Kendra Little, Oregon rallied past Ohio State to take the team title at 881 (295-296-290). The Ducks began the day four shots behind the Buckeyes, but won by two strokes after playing the final hole in 3-under par. It’s the first McGuire title for Oregon. Ohio State finished at 883, while Colorado came in third at 884.
Omlid birdied the final two holes to win her first collegiate tournament by one shot over Ohio State’s Rachel Rohanna (69-73-70=212). Omlid was the Ducks’ No. 5 player entering the tournament. She shot a 4-under 69 in the final round to finish at 8-under 211 (70-72-69). UNLV’s Therese Koelbaek was third at 214 (70-70-74). Little helped Oregon’s cause by firing a 2-under 71 in the final round.
Freshman Sammi Stevens was the Lobos’ top finisher. She shot a 1-under 72 (37-35) on the final day to tie for 29th at 7-over 226 (76-78-72).
Stevens made an up-and-down birdie on the final hole to get into red numbers for the day. She left her approach shot in the front bunker 55 yards from the flag, but blasted out to within 13 feet then rolled in a left-to-right putt for her best round as a Lobo.
Junior Manon de Roey tied for 71st at 240 (82-77-81).
Three Lobos participated as individuals. Freshman Sofia Hoglund tied for 59th at 236 (77-81-78). Junior Erin Miller tied for 71st at 240 (78-81-81) and senior Jordan Kennon tied for 83rd at 245 (81-82-82).