New Mexico Lobos Women’s Golf — at Arizona Wildcat Invitational
Where: Sewailo Golf Club (Par 72, 6,386 yards) – Tucson, Arizona
When: Monday (36 holes), Tuesday (18 holes)
The Field: New Mexico, Arizona, Campbell, Houston, Idaho, Kansas, Long Beach State, Michigan, New Mexico State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UNLV, USC, Washington State, Wisconsin.
Lobo Roster: Manon Molle’, Eva Saulnier, Katerina Jaeger, Ingrid Gutierrez, Alexandra Moisand
Tucson, Arizona – Jill Trujillo’s Lobos obviously have a several goals in mind when they tee off Monday in the 54-hole Arizona Wildcat Invitational.
First, the Lobos need to improve on the scorecards they turned in two weeks ago at the UCLA Wave Invitational held in Tarzana, Calif. The Lobos had only one golfer break 80 in the second and third rounds and finished 68 shots off the winning pace.
Coach Trujillo was not happy with the first outing of the 2015 spring season. “We have a lot of work to do and a lot of small things to work on in order to get where we want to be by conference,” said Trujillo.
Second, the Lobos will be out to best New Mexico State which is in the field of 15 in Tucson. The Aggies’ presence makes this a Rio Grande Rivalry match.
Third, a talented UNLV team carries a No. 17 Golfweek ranking into the event and the Lobos would like to stay as close to the Rebels as possible on the scorecards.
The Lobos have a Mountain West title to defend in 2015 and the two teams most likely to take that title away are the UNLV Rebels and the San Diego State Aztecs.
The tournament is being hosted by the University of Arizona. There is a practice round on Sunday and then 36 holes on Monday beginning with a 7:30 a.m. start.The Lobos tee off in Monday’s morning round from 9 a.m. to 9:36 a.m. Their afternoon tee times on Monday are from 1:15 p.m. to 1:51 p.m.
The tournament will take place at Sewailo Golf Club, a par 72, 6,386 yard course. Arizona last hosted the Wildcat Invitational in 2012, when both the Wildcats and Manon Gidali won the tournament. Gidali, now a senior, won the event in 2012 as a freshman.
The Wildcats should challenge for the title again in their event as they carry a No. 8 ranking from Golfweek (3-10-15) into the 15-team fray. They also have a win in their bags this spring.
However, based on rankings, No. 2 USC will be considered the team to beat. Texas A&M is ranked No. 15 and UNLV is No. 17. The Wildcats are coming off a win in the March 6-8 SunTrust Gator Women’s Golf Invitational where Gidali was the individual winner.
The Wildcats tee off Monday with No. 2 USC and No. 17 UNLV.
Live results are available at BirdieFire.com.
UNM sophomore Manon Molle’ did not compete in fall tournaments due to a broken bone in her left foot. Trujillo said Molle’ was in obvious pain at the Bruin Wave event, but that her No. 1 golfer likely will have to deal with pain the entire spring season.
Molle’’s scorecard obviously was influenced by her injury. In 2013-14, Molle’ had one round in the 80s in her 29 rounds as a D-I rookie. At the Bruin Wave tourney, she had one round in the 80s and another at 79.