May 15, 2008
OFF THE TEE: For the third time in program history, the UNLV women's golf team is headed to the NCAA Championships, which begin on May 20 at the Championship Course in Albuquerque, N.M. The 72-hole tournament will be played over four days, with teams playing 18 holes each day on the par-73 course, culminating with the final round on May 23. The top eight teams and top two individuals not on qualifying teams from the three regionals advanced to the NCAA Championships. UNLV made its first trip to the NCAA Championships in 2004, finishing 21st, and two years later the Rebels came in 22nd at the 2006 national event. The Rebels qualified for the 2008 NCAA Championships with their third-place finish at the NCAA West Regional, where they shot a team total of 879 (+15). UNLV was led at the regional by Therese Koelbaek, who tied for medalist honors with a three-round total of six-under 210. Koelbaek had rounds of four- and three-under during the tournament, and she became just the second Rebel golfer to earn medalist honors at a NCAA regional event. Sunny Oh was the first, winning the medalist honors at the 2004 NCAA West Regional. Oh was also the first Rebel golfer to play in the NCAA Championships, playing as an individual at the 2003 tournament. Oh finished 11th overall with a total of 301 (+13). Da Sol Chung has the highest individual finish in UNLV history at the NCAAs, coming in third with a score of 290 (+2) in 2006. All three UNLV trips to the NCAAs have come under head coach Missy Ringler, who has also guided the Rebels to six straight regional tournaments.
UNLV NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS HISTORY
2006 - 22nd - 313-301-304-312--1,230 (+78) Da Sol Chung (best individual finish) 3rd - 76-72-70-72--290 (+2)2004 - 21st - 308-299-302-295--1,204 (+52)2003 - Sunny Oh (played as an individual) 11th - 78-76-76-71--301 (+13)
The NCAA Championship Field:
(East Region) - Florida, Duke, Georgia, Auburn., Virginia, South Carolina, Wake Forest and Furman.(Central Region) - UCLA, Purdue, Denver, TCU, Texas A&M, Alabama, Texas and LSU.(West Region) - USC, Arizona State, UNLV, Arizona, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Tulsa and UC Davis.Individuals:1. Sara-Maude Juneau, Louisville (East)2. Alexandra Phelps, New Mexico (East)3. Caroline Westrup, Florida State (Central)4. Lauren Doughtie, North Carolina State (Central)5. Angela King, Stanford (West)6. Erica Moston, San Jose State (West)
THE REBEL LINEUP
Therese Koelbaek, FRNatasha Krishna, SOAlejandra Guacaneme, FRTonya Choate, SRKasi Lee, JR
THE COURSE: The 72-hole event will be played at the Championship Course in Albuquerque, N.M., marking the second time that the NCAA Championships will be hosted by New Mexico's home course. The Championship Course was the venue for the 1987 national tournament, won by San Jose State. This will be the third time this year that the Rebels have played the course, as they competed in the 2007 NCAA Fall Preview back on Sept. 24-26 to open the season and then the 2008 Mountain West Conference Championships, where they placed third. PAR: 73 YARDAGE: 6,167
LIVE SCORING: Fans will be able to follow the tournament live by going to www.unlvrebels.com and clicking on the NCAA Championships live scoring link.
