March 17, 2011
The University of New Mexico women’s golf team returns to the course next week, participating in the inaugural Battle at Rancho Bernardo Inn Sunday through Tuesday. The 54-hole tournament will be played at the Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Resort (par 72, 6,336 yards) in suburban San Diego. The teams will play 18 holes Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Live scoring will be available at GolfStat.com.
The talent-laden 17-team field includes host San Diego State (43), plus Arizona (8), Arizona State (9), Auburn (22), California (10), Denver (47), Georgia (20), New Mexico (51), Oregon (36), Pepperdine (17), Purdue (7), TCU (35), Texas (27), UC Davis (18), UCLA (3), UNLV (45) and USC (1). The number in parenthesis indicates national ranking according to the most recent Golfstat poll, which means UNM is the lowest ranked team in the field. Six of the top-10 teams in the country are participating.
Head coach Manon de Roey and Sammi Stevens.
BRANCH LAW FIRM CLINIC IS MARCH 26 — The Branch Law Firm Women’s Golf Clinic will be held Saturday, March 26, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course.
The clinic is free and open to all levels of women’s golfers. No registration is necessary. Just show up at the course. Clubs will be provided for those who need them. In case of inclement weather, the clinic will be moved indoors.
The clinic will be taught by UNM head coach Jill Trujillo, who is a certified LPGA/PGA Professional, assistant coach Becky Dover and the Lobo women’s golf team.
The Championship Course is located at 3601 University Blvd. SE. Exit Rio Bravo (exit 220) off of I-25. Go east to University and turn left. The golf course is on your left in less than a mile.
BRUIN WAVE INVITATIONAL RECAP – On March 2, the University of New Mexico women’s golf team moved up a spot in the final round of the Bruin Wave Invitational in Santa Clarita, Calif.
The Lobos finished seventh in the 15-team field after shooting a 301 today on the Valley Course (par 72, 6,282 yards) at the Robinson Ranch Golf Club. UNM finished with a 54-hole total of 913 (311-301-301).
The Lobos started the final round in eighth, two strokes behind BYU, but UNM was four shots better than the Cougars on the final day. New Mexico was in 12th after the first round.
UNM came into the tournament ranked No. 49 in the latest GolfStat national poll. The six teams that finished ahead of the Lobos – UCLA, Arizona, Pepperdine, Stanford, San Diego State and Texas – are all ranked higher. New Mexico did manage to defeat two higher-ranked teams – No. 41 UNLV and No. 47 Oklahoma State.
“While I was not happy with our finish in the first round, I was encouraged by our play the last two days,” said head coach Jill Trujillo. “We got a little better each day and that’s what you hope for. It’s something to build on moving forward.”
No. 3 UCLA led wire-to-wire, beating second-place Arizona by 20 shots. The Bruins finished at 860.
Playing in her first tournament of the spring, sophomore Beth Buchner led the Lobos with a 227 (77-75-75, +11), tying for 26th.
Freshman Manon de Roey tied for 33rd at 230 (76-75-79, +14). She was stung by some difficulties in the middle of the round, losing seven shots between holes 16 and 2.
Junior Rebecca Hellbom, UNM’s No. 1 player, played like it on the final day. She had all pars except for a bogey on the par-4 15th. After beginning the day in a tie for 55th, Hellbom’s 73 moved her all the way into a tie for 39th at 231 (83-75-73, +15). The 16-spot improvement was the largest of any golfer in the 84-player field.
Junior Sarah Salvo also tied for 39th at 231 (80-76-75, +15) while freshman Sammi Stevens tied for 48th at 233 (78-77-78, +17). Freshman Sofia Hoglund, playing as an individual, shot an 83.
UCLA’s Lee Lopez birdied the last two holes for a final-round 69 to win the individual title at 4-under 212. Lopez beat teammate Glory Yang by a shot and Stephanie Kono – also from UCLA – by two strokes.
A LOOK BACK AT THE ARIZONA MATCH – On March 5, the Lobos played a rare one-day, three-team match in Litchfield Park, Ariz., outside Phoenix. The Lobos were paired with Arizona and Arizona State – a pair of top-20 teams – at the Wigwam Golf Course (par 72, 6,221 yards).
Arizona State had the low team total at 293 followed by Arizona (295) and UNM (305). Freshman Manon de Roey led the Lobos with a 73, tying for fourth place. Fellow freshman Sammi Stevens came in with a 76 followed by junior Sarah Salvo at 77. Junior Rebecca Hellbom shot a 79. Sophomore Beth Buchner had an 80.