April 21, 2005

SUNRIVER, Ore. - Seeking a second-consecutive Mountain West Conference championship the UNLV women's golf team opened up with an opening-round 295 (+11) to grab a five-shot lead at the league championships at the Meadows Course at Sunriver Resort.

Elena Kurokawa rose to the top of the leader board as well for the Rebels, firing a two-under 69 to grab the lead after the first round. The junior's round was one of two sub-par scores on the day as Kurokawa holds a one-stroke lead over Rachel Newren of BYU, who shot a one-under 70.

UNLV has a five-stroke lead over New Mexico, which shot a 300 (+16) in the first round of play. With their MWC Championship last year the Rebels snapped the Lobos' four-year reign as conference champions.

The Rebels had four players finish in the top 10 after the first round as Hwanhee Lee, Seema Sadekar and Young Pak all finished near the top of the pack with Kurokawa. Lee is tied for fifth with a round of 73 (+2), Sadekar is in ninth with a 76 (+5) and Pak is in a group of five tied for 10th with a round of 77 (+6).

Kurokawa rolled to a quick start, nailing birdies on five of the first 14 holes and was five-under with four holes to play in her round. The junior's lead could have been bigger, but she had a little difficulty closing her round, carding a double bogey on hole 15 and a bogey on the final hole.

Christine Hentzner rounded out the Rebel team with an 80 (+9), but only the four top scores from each round count toward the team total.

Two players from UNM followed Kurokawa and Newren, as Christine Fernandez and Christina Spence both carded a one-over 72 to lead the Lobos in the first round. Kristen Campos of Colorado State is tied with Lee in fifth place with a 73 (+2).

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