May 23, 2008

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - NCAA Championships Final Results

The UNLV women's golf team posted its best-ever finish at the NCAA Championships on Friday, finishing 16th overall at the national tournament, which was played at the Championship Course.

This was the third NCAA appearance for the Rebels in the seven-year history of the program, and UNLV finished 21st in 2004 and 22nd in 2006. Unlike those two years, this team battled adverse conditions all week long, including severe wins that postponed round two, and lightning that delayed yesterday's third round.

"I am very proud of what this team was able to accomplish at the end of the season," UNLV head coach Missy Ringler said. "The girls held it together in very tough conditions. It makes me excited for the future of our program."

UNLV carded a four-round total of 1,223 (314-297-304-308, +71), and all five players in the lineup, which featured two freshmen and a sophomore, were making their first NCAA tournament appearance.

USC won the team title with a score of 1,168 (+16), beating UCLA by six strokes to take home top team honors. Azahara Munoz of Arizona State defeated Tiffany Joh of UCLA in a playoff to earn medalist honors, as both players had 54-hole totals of 287 (-1).

UNLV freshman Therese Koelbaek finished tied for 34th with a four-round score of 12-over 300 (75-76-74-75), as she shot a three-over 75 on Friday to post four-straight scores of 76 or lower. Koelbaek's top-40 finish marked just the fifth such finish in Rebel history. Four strokes behind was sophomore Natasha Krishna, who tied for 54th with a score of 304 (+16), and she shot a 78 (+6) during today's final round.

Rebel rookie Alejandra Guacaneme (78-73-80-80--311, +23) and Tonya Choate (81-74-78-78--311, +23) tied for 85th and Kasi Lee (83-83-83-77--326, +38) came in 121st. Choate, who is a senior that transferred to UNLV last fall, is the only Rebel who will not return next season.