By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
In a way, it’s Lobo Manon Molle’ against the world of NCAA Division I golf.
The New Mexico sophomore – the 2015 Mountain West champion – will begin NCAA play Thursday in San Antonio looking to become one of 132 golfers who will advance to the national finals.
Molle’ will have two Lobo coaches — head coach Jill Trujillo and assistant Britney Choy — following her around the links of the Briggs Rancho Golf Club, but she will have no teammates in this 54-hole hunt. The New Mexico Lobos did not make the NCAA field as a team, but Molle’ was selected as an individual.
The tourney opens with a practice round on Wednesday with the 54-hole event beginning at 7:30 a.m., on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Molle’ used her charge at the Mountain West Championships to make the field as an individual. She also was named to the league’s 2014-15 Women’s Golf All-Conference Second Team.
It was a solid season for Molle’, but the Lobo team struggled most of the year and had five tournaments in which the Lobos were either last or next to last. They saved their best round for the final 18 holes of the Mountain West Championships and finished runner-up to San Diego State, but that late charge did not earn UNM a team berth in postseason play.
So, in San Antonio, Molle’ goes at it alone over the 6,350-yard, par-72 course that will push some teams and some golfers into the finals – and end the season for others. There are 18 teams in the San Antonio Regional and six individuals.
There are four regional tournaments with 384 golfers competing. There will be 132 golfers advancing to the finals with six teams and three individuals advancing from each regional. The individuals can be plucked from teams not advancing to the finals, so Molle’ has a lot of golfers to beat in order to reach the championship rounds.
The national finals will be held May 22-27 at The Concessions Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida. The final three days of the championship will be televised live by The Golf Channel.
Molle’ won the Mountain West individual championship by carding the best round of the day (67) on the final 18 holes and claiming the title with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff. Molle’ enters the NCAA postseason with a 73.67 stroke average. She is one of three Mountain West golfers who will play in the NCAA postseason as individuals.
Molle’ came to New Mexico via Bains sur Oust, France, and she was expected to make an immediate impact on Trujillo’s lineup. She finished fifth in the MW Championships before grabbing the MW title this season. She missed the Lobos’ fall season due to a broken bone in her foot and played through pain throughout the Lobos’ spring campaign.
MOLLE’S 2014-15 TOURNAMENTS
UNM/UTEP Match: 71-67 – 138 (1st of 11)
Bruin Wave Invitational: 76-79-82 – 237 (49th of 79)
Arizona Wildcat Invitational: 71-77-74 – 222 (21st of 88)
Denver vs. Colorado JV Match: 74 (3rd of 8)
Silverado Showdown: 77-70-77 – 224 (17 of 78)
Mountain West Championships: 72-71-67 – 210 (1st of 44)
2014-15 Review: six tournaments, 15 rounds, 73.67 stroke average, low round of 67, in 60s twice.