April 25, 2011
The University of New Mexico women’s golf team has received an at-large invitation to participate in the 2011 NCAA Championships, the NCAA Division I women’s golf committee announced today.
UNM will compete in the NCAA West Regional May 5-7 at the Washington National Golf Course in Auburn, Wash. The University of Washington will serve as host. Live stats will be available at www.GolfStat.com.
The NCAA Women’s Golf Championships is divided into three regionals: East, Central and West. Each regional has 24 teams, with the top eight teams in each region advancing to the finals May 18-21 at Texas A&M.
UNM is seeded No. 18 in the West Regional.
This marks the 19th consecutive year New Mexico has qualified for NCAA postseason, or every year since regional play began in 1993.
Participating for UNM at the West Regional will be juniors Manon de Roey and Sammi Stevens.
“We have a very young team (no seniors in the starting five) and to be rewarded with another trip to the NCAAs is a tremendous accomplishment,” said head coach Jill Trujillo. “You want to be playing your best golf at this time of the year, and that’s what we’re doing.”
UNM finished fourth at the Mountain West Conference Championships earlier this month; however, the Lobos shot their two lowest rounds of the season the last two days of competition.
Joining the Lobos at the West Regional are eight teams ranked in the top 23 of the latest GolfStat.com poll: No. 1 Southern California, No. 6 Virginia, No. 7 Arizona, No. 12 Georgia, No. 13 Tennessee, No. 15 Iowa State, No. 19 Pepperdine and No. 23 UC Davis. The other 16 teams in order of selection are Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington, Tulsa, Denver, San Diego State, BYU, New Mexico, UT San Antonio, Portland State, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Oral Roberts and UTEP.
The Lobos are seeking their 16th trip to the NCAA Championships. UNM finished tied for 16th at the 2010 NCAA Championship.