Lobos Complete Day One of 41st Branch/McGuire
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s golf team wrapped up day one of the 41st annual Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational on Monday evening at the UNM Championship Golf Course. The Lobos rank ninth in the tough field that includes a pair of NCAA Championship squads and five Mountain West teams. Through 36 holes, junior Caroline Jansson leads the Lobos with a two-round score of 146 (+2).
ROUND 1 & 2 RESULTS
ROUND 3 PAIRINGS
LIVE STATS
Jansson shot a two under, 70 in round one before posting a 76 in round two, tied for 22nd overall. Jansson also led the Lobos in pars with a total of 25, just three behind the leader from UC Davis, Jackie Lucena.
Jansson was tied by sophomore Tiana Cruz in the first round with a 70 but both tied for second on the Lobo squad through 18 holes as freshman Napat “Jenny” Lertsadwattana, playing as an individual, shot an outstanding score of 68 in her first round as a Lobo (-4). Lertsadwattana closed round one tied for third overall and ultimately finished 25th with a score of 147 (+3). Cruz ranked fourth among the Lobos on the day, tied for 48th overall, with her score of 150 (+6).
Cruz was one of just nine golfers to finish Monday’s competition with an eagle, which she achieved on hole one, her first of round two. She led her teammates in par 5 scoring with an average of 4.50 (-4) and finished the day alongside freshman Alice Rindestig, sophomore Kamie Hamada and junior Serena Chon on the overall leaderboard as all four tied for 48th (150, +6).
Following Jansson in leading the Lobos on the day was freshman Lauren Lehigh who tied for 25th place overall, just one stroke behind. She recorded a first-round total of 76 before shaving off five strokes in the second (71) for a two-round total of 147 (+3) in her first outing as a Lobo.
The final freshman to compete saw the green as an individual and finished +10 on the day. Chloé Lauer posted an 81 in round one before chopping eight strokes off of her game, registering a 73 in round two for a total of 154.
As a team, the Lobos finished ninth with a team score of 586 (+10). Leading after two rounds is Pepperdine (569, -7), 2019 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship participant Kent State (570, -6) and Ole Miss (571, -5). Of the five Mountain West squads to compete in the tournament, the Lobos sit in the middle, seven strokes behind defending MW Champion San Diego State (+3), just two strokes behind Nevada (T7, +8), 10 strokes ahead of UNLV (11th, +20) and 24 strokes ahead of Colorado State, which finished 15th after two rounds.
The Lobos also finished just two strokes behind Indiana, which finished 21st in last season’s NCAA Women’s Golf Championship.
The Lobos tee off the third and final round on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 7:30 a.m. Fans are able to come out to the UNM Championship Golf Course to watch the Lobos live and in person. For those unable to make it out, fans can also follow LIVE STATS.