Lobos in Seventh after First Day of Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico women’s golf team began the 2025-26 season on Monday with the first two rounds of the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational, its lone home tournament of the year at the UNM Championship Course. The Lobos shot 20-over during the first 36 holes to end the day in seventh place among the 15-team field.

UNM shot 8-over during the morning’s first round, before shooting 12-over during the afternoon. Sacramento State is the 36-hole leader at 1-under, as the Hornets are the lone team under par through two rounds. South Alabama is in second at 3-over, while Cal State Fullerton (7-over), Long Beach State (11-over) and Montana State (15-over) round out the top five.

The Lobos were led on Monday by freshman Ava Cepeda, who is T-25th individually at 4-over after rounds of 75 and 73. Maria Caparros Levin is at 5-over, Ciara Rushmer is at 6-over, Chelsea Truong is 8-over and Rebecca Galasso rounds out the lineup at 9-over. Freshman Juliette Hole, playing as an individual in her collegiate debut, is also at 9-over.

“We weren’t as steady as we wanted to be today,” said head coach Jill Trujillo. “We worked really hard over the last three weeks on hitting shots out the rough and around the greens, but that didn’t translate in today’s rounds. Our upperclassmen need to bring it tomorrow. I am very proud of our freshmen, as both really improved from round one to round two. I’m also proud of Ciara who played well in her first tournament back after being out most of last season with an injury. We are excited to have another round tomorrow.”

The tournament will conclude Tuesday with the final round at the UNM Championship Course. Play begins at 7:30 a.m. with a shotgun start and admission is free.