April 5, 2004
Results
ST. GEORGE, Utah - The No. 21 UNLV women's golf team moved into position to defend its team title at the BYU Dixie Classic on Monday, posting both the team and individual leads after the first two rounds of play.
As a team, the Rebels carded rounds of 296 and 291 at the par-72, 6,127-yard Entrada Course at Snow Canyon, and at 11-over par, they hold a 15-stroke lead over San Francisco heading into Tuesday's final round. The 291 matched the school record for low team round, shot three other times in Rebel history.
Furthermore, the Rebels' Sunny Oh is pacing the individual field after firing rounds of 70 and 72. At two-under, Oh holds a four-stroke lead over teammate Seema Sadekar and conference rival Heather MacRae of San Diego State.
"We expected to carry over some of the strong play that we've had this spring, to make a serious title defense and compete for the lead out here, and it's reassuring to know that we are actually meeting those expectations," UNLV head coach Missy Ringler said.
The team's lead could have been even bigger as a scoring rule forced the disqualification of Elena Kurokawa's score. Without the disqualification, Kurokawa would have counted a 73 toward the opening round score. She did count 71 toward the afternoon round and would hold second place outright without the disqualification.
Sadekar shot back-to-back 73s to provide a solid backbone for the Rebel squad. But a complete team effort saw rounds of 77 and 75 from Hwanhee Lee and scores of 76 and 78 from Young Pak.
In only its third year as a program, the women's golf team is poised to win its third ever tournament as a team. The first came at this very tournament last season when UNLV leapt seven places on the leaderboard on the final day to defeat San Francisco by three strokes. The second was at the Northwest Invite in Sunriver, Ore., earlier this season.
If Oh can hold on to win, it would mark her second victory as a collegian. Oh captured the NCAA West Region crown in Tempe, Ariz., last year.
Three other UNLV players competed as individuals. Christine Hentzner is tied for 22nd place overall after rounds of 74 and 82. Erin McGough shot a career low 78 in the morning, paired with an 86 in the nightcap that has her in 48th place. And Ayeesha Kosugi scored rounds of 87 and 92 and sits tied for 64th.
Final round play at the BYU Dixie Classic will begin with an 8:00 a.m. MDT shotgun start.
