Oct. 27, 2008
First Round Individual Results
First Round Team Results
Follow The Tournament Live
BOULDER CITY, Nev. - Behind sizzling rounds from Therese Koelbaek and Kristen Schelling, the UNLV women's golf team is tied for third after the opening round of the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, which is being played at Boulder Creek Golf Club.
The Rebels posted a team score of six-under 282, which is the second-lowest round in school history both to par and overall score. Koelbaek and Schelling played a big role in that low score, as they each carded opening-round scores of four-under 68, which ties for the fourth-lowest score to par in team history.
Koelbaek rolled in five birdies against just one bogey while Schelling, who is just a freshman, posted the best round of her Rebel career in a round that featured four birdies and no bogies. The four-under par round as well as the total of 68 tied the career low for Koelbaek, which she set last year as a freshman during the second round of the NCAA West Regional.
"Kristen's four under is what we need to push us forward as a team and it was great to see her play that well," UNLV head coach Missy Ringler said. "We have come to expect that kind of round out of Therese, who had a great first day on the course."
With hardly any wind, clear skies and the temperature in the mid 80s, it was a picture-perfect day out on the course and the conditions produced several low scores.
No. 16 Louisville and No. 19 Pepperdine are tied for first with scores of eight-under 280, followed closely by the Rebels and No. 5 Oklahoma State, who are two shots behind. Texas Tech rounds out the top five at five-under 283, and there are four other teams at par or better after one round. The round of the day belonged to Lee Lopez of Long Beach State, who picked apart the course on her way to an eight-under 64 and the individual lead, three shots ahead of a trio of golfers at five under. Koelbaek and Schelling are four shots behind Lopez.
"The weather was perfect and the course is in fantastic shape," Ringler said. "We want this tournament to be a good experience for the student-athletes and we are happy with the first round. Tomorrow we will go out and try for more red numbers."
UNLV junior Natasha Krishna shot an even-par 72 and is tied for 26th, Alejandra Guacaneme fired a two-over 74 and is in a group tied for 52nd and Melissa Mabanta carded a four-over 76 and is tied for 67th.
The Rebels fielded two teams and the Rebel "B" team is 17th after one round and is being led by Kasi Lee, who is tied for 36th with a one-over 73. Bethany Glassford (76, +4) is tied for 67th, Stephanie Whatley (80, +8) and Victoria Oros (80, +8) are tied for 86th and Nicole McGirr (81, +9) is tied for 90th.
UNLV's two teams are part of a field of 18 squads that are competing in the tournament that is being played on the par-72, 6,238-yard course. Tuesday's first tee times are set for 7:30 a.m. (PT) off of holes one and 10, and Wednesday's final round will be an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start.
