Results
The Field vs. New Mexico – UNLV, Colorado St., Fresno St., Gonzaga, Idaho, Indiana, Long Beach St., Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Nebraska, San Diego St., San Jose St., Tennessee, Texas, UC Irvine, Vanderbilt
The Lobos – Manon Molle’, Sol Lee, Darian Zachek, Eva Saulnier, Ingrid Gutierrez, Alexandra Moisand
LAS VEGAS, NV – After 18 holes of golf, the New Mexico Lobos are currently tied for seventh place at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown hosted by fellow Mountain West team, UNLV. The Lobos finished the first round at 7-under-par with a combined team score of 281. Lobo head coach Jill Trujillo was happy with the team’s performance on day one of the event.
“It was a really good day,” said Trujillo. “We left a few shots out there but the girls hung tough.”
Sharing the top spot of the leaderboard is Michigan and San Jose State with matching scores of 275 (-13). Following close behind is Missouri in third (-11), Nebraska in fourth (-10), and San Diego State and Vanderbilt tied for fifth (-8). New Mexico is currently in a three-way tie for seventh place with UNLV and Tennessee (-7).
Going in to this event, the Lobos knew that the Boulder Creek Country Club would lend them a lot of opportunities to sink birdies. After only one round, an astounding 342 birdies have been accumulated among the 19 team field. San Diego State alone had 24 birdies, and three teams (Vanderbilt, San Jose State, Michigan) tacked on 23 birdies a piece. New Mexico had18 birdies on the day.
“A lot of birdies is going to win this tournament and the course was not playing very difficult, so it brought a lot of teams in,” Trujillo admitted. “Michigan shot 13-under which was pretty incredible for today.”
On the individual side, atop the leaderboard is San Jose State’s My Leander with a card of 65 (-7), one stroke better than her teammate Elizabeth Schultz (-6). Leading the Lobos in the first round was sophomore, Ingrid Gutierrez, with a card of 68 (-4). Gutierrez is currently tied for eighth overall.
“I played really solid today. My irons were really good today so I had a lot of opportunities to birdie,” said Gutierrez. “Everyone played their best golf and if the team keeps playing like this we have a good possibility of placing high in this tournament.”
Unfortunately for the Lobos, Manon Molle’ hit a wrong ball on hole 15 and it cost her a triple bogey. Thanks to four birdies, Molle’ ended the day with a par-even card of 72.
“Mistakes like that happen sometimes,” said Trujillo. “I can guarantee on her behalf that it won’t ever happen again.”
The Lobos will tee off round two tomorrow, October 26th at 8:00 a.m.
“Tomorrow is another day and we are shooting for the Lobo record,” Trujillo smiled. “We will see how it all goes tomorrow.”