New Mexico Lobos Women’s Golf – At the Golfweek Conference Challenge
Where: Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club, Wolcott, Colo. (Par 72, 6,249 yards)
When: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – 54 holes
New Mexico vs. the Field: Campbell – Big South; Colorado – Pac-12; Denver – Summit League; Georgetown – Big East; Illinois State – Missouri Valley; Jacksonville State – Ohio Valley; Lamar – Southland; Long Beach State – Big West; Louisville – ACC; Nebraska – Big Ten; Pepperdine – West Coast; Stetson – Atlantic Sun; TCU – Big 12; Tennessee – SEC; Texas State – Sun Belt; Toledo – Mid-American; Texas-San Antonio – Conference USA.
The Lobos: Ingrid Gutierrez, Katerina Jaeger, Alexandra Moisand, Eva Saulnier, Kalyn Thayer
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
The pressure of qualifying to make New Mexico’s travel squad for the Golfweek Conference Challenge that begins Monday in Wolcott, Colo., had a different feel for Jill Trujillo’s Lobos.
There were no cuts.
Coach Trujillo had no choice in the five golfers she will throw out on the Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club in Wolcott. Sophomore Manon Molle is out with a fractured foot which leaves Trujillo with exactly five golfers. And until Molle returns to action, those five will be the Lobos that Trujillo goes into battle with.
Still, the Lobos went through the process of qualifying because it helps to have a tourney feel prior to playing in a tournament.
“You have to stay in a competitive mode,” said Trujillo.
The Golfweek Challenge held a practice round on Sunday (Sept. 20) with the 54-hole tournament being played out on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The teams will tee off at 10 a.m., on Monday and Tuesday and at 9:30 p.m., for Wednesday’s final 18 holes.
“It’s going to be cold,” Trujillo predicted of the course near the Colorado ski resort of Vail
The course’s elevation goes as high as 7,950 feet. The Lobos might have to carry a few snow shovels in their golf bags. One reason for the later tee times is to get the morning frost off the greens.
The Lobos will be representing New Mexico, but they also will be carrying the colors of the Mountain West in this battle of conferences. Pepperdine, which was one of the favorites to win the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational last week, once again is a team to watch.
The Waves own three of the five Golfweek Challenge titles and won those crowns by a combined total of 42 shots. They last won in 2013 – by 36 shots. The Waves lost All-American Grace Nu, but return three talented letterwinners headlined by Marisa Chow, Golfweek’s preseason pick for the No. 17 spot nationally.
Trujillo saw a few ups and downs from her young team in the Branch/McGuire. UNM finished 15th out of 16 on its own turf.
“The second round hurt us,” said Trujillo. “They (Lobos) know that second round wasn’t the best they can do. Everything about this team seems to be about how young they are (no seniors or juniors). I told them they are going to be an incredible, unbelievable team in a couple of years, but let’s start now.”
Trujillo said her Lobos hurt themselves by not closing out rounds.
“We had a pretty good round going on our third round, but then we had too many bogeys over the final three holes,” she said. “That’s every golfer’s challenge to have that extra focus on their final holes. Whether you have a good round going or a bad round going, you have to finish.
“You can make a good round better or a bad round worse.”
Lobo freshman Ingrid Gutierrez was New Mexico’s top finisher at the Branch/McGuire with a card of 76-76-75—227 which gave her a tie for 39th. Freshman Alexandra Moisand tied for 50th at 75-80-74—229.