University of Nevada Las Vegas

Women’s Golf Athlete (2008-11)

Unquestionably one of the greatest women’s golfers in both UNLV and Mountain West history, Koelbaek (co-EL-bek) became the only three-time All-American Rebel in her sport before forging a pro career on the links. She also just became the first women’s golfer voted into the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame on her first year eligible for the ballot. A native of Denmark, Koelbaek (married named O’Hara) made an immediate impact and was named Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2008 after leading the league in scoring average with what was the second-best single-season average in UNLV history. Just the second Rebel to win two tournaments in a single season, Koelbaek was tabbed All-Region and Golfweek Honorable Mention All-America. She repeated that feat by improving her scoring average by more than half a stroke as a sophomore. After ranking second in the league in scoring again as a junior, she saved her best for last, turning in a stunning senior campaign. The 2011 Mountain West Golfer of the Year led the league in scoring after collecting a dazzling 10 top-10 finishes in 11 events entered. She also breezed to the individual conference championship with a league-record seven-under par showing in Litchfield Park, Arizona. A six-time MW Golfer of the Month and four-time all-conference honoree, she played in the NCAA Championships all four seasons on campus and was just as impressive in the classroom, earning Second Team Academic All-America and being named 2011 Mountain West Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year among all sports. She capped her collegiate career as a Second Team All-American and ranks second at UNLV with a career scoring average of 73.25. Still holding the school record of birdies in a career with 366, Koelbaek also tied for the Rebel record for lowest tournament score at 16-under par. A four-time individual medalist, including winning the 2008 NCAA West Regional, she moved on to a professional career, playing three years on the Epson Tour and then making 33 starts in two seasons on the LPGA Tour before retiring from the sport in 2017.

KOELBAEK'S CAREER STATS
YEAR         RDS    STR         AVG       TOP 20    TOP 10   TOP 5   PAR OR BETTER
2007-08     36       2,656        73.78       0               1                4                   12
2008-09     29       2,124        73.24       2                1                5                   13
2009-10      32       2,356        73.63       9               5                1                    10
2010-11        30       2,160        72.00       0              4                6                   13     
TOTAL        127     9,296       73.25      11             12             16                  48