March 16, 2005
HENDERSON, Nev. - Elena Kurokawa finished fourth Wednesday at the inaugural UNLV Spring Invite held at Black Mountain Golf and Country Club, claiming her third consecutive top-10 finish this spring.
Kurokawa carded an even-par 72 in the final round to finish with three-day total of 223 (+7) in her fourth round of the spring. After shooting a 78 (+6) on a windy opening round, the junior shot a one over 72 Tuesday before her par round Wednesday. Kurokawa led the Rebels to a sixth-place finish.
Cassandra Kirkland of Arizona finished with a three-round total of 220 (+4) to win medalist honors for the first time in her collegiate career. Kirkland's second round three-under 69 was the low round of the tournament.
USC had three players finish in the top 20 to win the team championship with total of 895 (+31) as the Trojans led from start to finish. USC used a dominating final round, the Trojans shot a 290 (+2) as a team, to win by 15 strokes.
Young Pak joined Kurokawa in the top 15 as the Rebel senior finished in a tie for 15th with a 229 (+13). Seema Sadekar nearly cracked the top 25 as she closed her final round in a tie for 27th with a total of 235 (+19). Allison Chell finished in 64th with a total of 246 (+30). And Hwanhee Lee tied for 72nd with a 248 (+32).
Pepperdine shot a final three-over 291 as a team in Wednesday's final round to finish in second place with a total of 910 (+46). Led by Kirkland's medalist honors the Wildcats came in third with a score of 916 (+52). Tennessee and Michigan tied for fourth with a 926 (+62), just one stroke ahead of the Rebels. UNLV's three-round total was 927.
Finishing behind Kirkland in second place was Eileen Vargas who shot a 221 (+5), finishing just one shot short of forcing a playoff. Catalina Marin of champion USC was third with a 222 (+6), just one shot ahead of Kurokawa.
UNLV will be off until the first week of April when the Rebels head to Utah for the BYU-Utah Dixie Classic in St. George, Utah on April 4-5.
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