April 26, 2008

Results

TUCSON, Ariz. - UNLV sophomore Eddie Olson shot a final-round 1-under-par 70 and claimed the individual title at the 2008 Mountain West Conference Men's Golf Championship on Saturday, finishing three shots ahead of the field and tying the MWC Championship record for margin of victory. The tournament was played at the Catalina Course at Tucson National (par 71, 7,136 yards).

Olson finished the tournament with a 54-hole total of 4-under 209, while three golfers tied for second at 1-under. The win marks the first in Olson's career. His previous best career finishes were earlier this season when he was 10th at the Shoot-out at Angel Park in September, and 10th at the National Invitational Tournament in March.

Olson's three-shot win tied the MWC Championship record for margin of victory, which was set in 2002 and tied in 2004. Olson is the third Rebel to win individual medalist honors at the MWC Championship as Ryan Moore won in 2004 and Michael Kirk in 2000.

Colorado State, which entered Saturday's final round in fourth-place and eight shots back, was the only team under par on Saturday with a 6-under 278 and catapulted itself to its first MWC men's golf title, finishing at 2-under 850. TCU shot a final-round 6-over 290 to finish in second at 2-over 854, while BYU was 9-over on Saturday and finished third at 5-over 857. 15th-ranked UNLV shot a final-round 8-over 292 to finish fourth at 7-over 859, while Utah rounded out the top five at 14-over for the tournament.

Other Rebel final-round scores, places and totals: Seung-Su Han (73, T10th, 2-over 215), Brett Kanda (75, T10th, 2-over 215), Matt Kinsinger (74, T32nd, 9-over 222) and Ji Moon (79, T36th, 12-over 225).

At the conclusion of the championship, the league announced the all-conference team and league awards. UNLV had three representatives on the 10-person All-MWC Team in Han, Kinsinger and Olson. San Diego State's Aaron Goldberg won golfer of the year, his teammate Matt Hoffenberg was freshman of the year and Colorado State's Jamie Bermel won coach of the year. Other all-conference team members were BYU's Robbie Fillmore, Colorado State's Bryce Hanstad and Dustin Morris, Goldberg, Hoffenberg and teammate David Palm and TCU's Franklin Corpening.

UNLV will learn its destination for the NCAA Regionals when the field is announced on Monday, May 5.