May 28, 2002
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
The UNLV women's golf team wrapped up its first-ever season of competition, failing to secure a berth in one of the three NCAA Regional Tournament. But despite missing the postseason bid, the Rebels enjoyed a healthy run of success during its freshman campaign.
The first-year program erupted into the spring portion of its schedule with a number of school-record performances at the Lady Aztec Invitational in San Diego on Feb. 18-19. Touted freshman Hwanhee Lee was the headliner, recording her first collegiate win as well as the school's first. Lee came from behind to win the 36-hole tourney and captured Player of the Month honors from both the Mountain West Conference and Golf World magazine.
And while Lee finished as UNLV's top player throughout most of the season, junior Erin Borcherts scattered her name through the first chapter of the Rebel record book. The Las Vegas native was the team's only player to card a par round in 2001-02, turning the trick twice. She shot a final-round 72 at the Rainbow Wahine Fall Classic in November before carding an even-par 71 on the final day of the Mountain West Conference Championship.
Borcherts efforts at the conference tourney led what proved to be the top team effort of the year. After matching its best team round on the event's first day, shooting 305, the Rebels showed daily improvement. UNLV carded 303 in the second round before blistering the course for a 13-over 297 in the finale.
Lee and Borcherts were joined by Christine Hentzner, Tina Mabanta and Autumn Monteiro in the starting lineup for most of the season. The group found its chemistry as the season progressed, and despite playing their best golf of the year at the season's end, the Rebels finished fifth at the league tourney and were unable to improve their rank within the district.
All five starters and eight players on this year's roster return next season, as well as two top-ranked juniors. In her second signing class at UNLV, Hester inked Elena Kurokawa of Riverside, Calif., and Sunny Oh of Seoul, Korea to National Letters of Intent.
