Oct. 30, 2011
The University of New Mexico women’s golf team closes the fall season at the 38th Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational. The 54-hole tournament begins Monday at the University of Texas Golf Club in Austin. The schedule is 18 holes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Live scoring will be available at GolfStat.com.
The 15-team field includes Arizona (20), Arkansas (42), Denver (40), Florida (10), Iowa (36), Kent State (37), Mississippi State, New Mexico (39), Oklahoma State (5), Pepperdine (41), Princeton, Texas (14), Tulsa (38), UNLV, Wisconsin. Rankings based on latest Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index (Oct. 23, 2011).
Head coach Jill Trujillo will take seniors Rebecca Hellbom and Sarah Salvo, junior Beth Buchner and sophomore Sofia Hoglund and Sammi Stevens. Sophomore Manon De Roey will compete as an individual.
LAST TIME AT THE LONGHORN INVITATIONAL – In the spring of 2010, the 22nd-ranked Lobos finished in ninth place. UNM shot a 32-over 320 in the final round for a 54-hole total of 925. UCLA won the 17-team tournament with an 884.
After her two highest scores of the season, Lobo senior Jodi Ewart rebounded with a 1-over 73 to finish in a tie for 19th place at 10-over 226 (76-77-73). Her round was highlighted by an eagle-3 at the par-5, 459-yard fifth hole. The rest of the Lobos all shot in the 80s on a windy day in south Texas.
Sophomore Rebecca Hellbom tied for 33rd at 15-over 231 (76-73-82). Senior Britney Choy tied for 43rd at 18-over 234 (78-74-82). Sophomore Sarah Salvo tied for 54th at 21-over 237 (75-78-84) while freshman Bethany Buchner tied for 58th at 22-over 238 (79-76-83).
The Lobos won the team title at the rain-shortened 2008 Longhorn Invitational. UNM covered 36 holes in 623.
BERNING CLASSIC REVIEW – Led by junior Beth Buchner’s career-low round of 69, the New Mexico women’s golf team finished in fifth place earlier this month at the Susie Berning Maxwell Classic in Norman, Okla.
Playing on a cold and blustery day at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club course (par 72, 6,327 yards), UNM tied host and winner Oklahoma for the second-lowest score (300) among the 17 teams to finish at 23-over 887 (289-298-300).
The Lobos finished nine shots behind OU (878). The Sooners edged Texas Tech (879) by one shot.
Buchner, who started the day in a tie for 22nd, vaulted into a tie for third (217) after a round that featured four birdies (1, 2, 8 and 13) and just one bogey. Her previous low 18 was a 71 at the 2010 Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic in Fort Collins, Colo. Buchner also recorded personal bests for best score in relation to par (+1), low 54-hole total (74-74-69=217) and best finish (tie for 3rd).
Buchner’s performance was particularly impressive considering the average score of the 90-player field in the final round was 78.43.
As a team, UNM was 10-over after its first nine holes, but lost just one shot over the final nine. A shotgun format was used for the final round.
“Beth was tremendous, especially in some challenging conditions,” said head coach Jill Trujillo. “We had a rocky start, but I like the way we held it together. I can see improvement.”
Sophomore Sofia Hoglund fell to a 78 and ended in a tie for 10th place at 5-over 221 (70-73-78). A double bogey on her first hole began a rocky day for the Branch Law Firm Dick McGuire winner.
Senior Rebecca Hellbom tied for 12th at 222 (71-74-77). She was 2-over after 12 holes, but dropped three shots on the final six holes to finish with a 77. Sophomore Manon De Roey finished in a tie for 36th at 13-over 229 (74-79-76). She navigated the final nine holes in 1-under after playing the first nine in 5-over. Sophomore Sammi Stevens shot 78 to end at 231 (76-77-78) and tie for 45th.