April 7, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Complete Results

UNLV women's golf took home the team title and junior Natasha Krishna earned medalist honors at the Indiana Invitational on Tuesday, which was played under chilly conditions at Otter Creek Golf Club.

UNLV ran away with team honors with a score of 931 (317-309-305, +67) that was good for a 13-stroke victory over Iowa State (323-310-311--944, +80), which trailed the Rebels by seven heading into today's final round. The win is the second of the season for UNLV, which won its own UNLV Spring Invitational at the beginning of March, and in the Rebels' last four events the squad has finished either first or second.

Krishna finished with a three-round total of 225 (75-74-76, +9), marking the first time this year that a Rebel golfer won an individual title, and it was the second win of Krishna's collegiate career. Her first was at the 2006 Aloha Collegiate, and this one came in much different playing conditions, as at times rain and snow fall on the course while temperatures hovered in the low 40s with a 10-degree wind chill.

"Coming into the tournament we were the highest-ranked team in the event and we did what we were supposed to do, and we did it playing in some really adverse conditions," UNLV head coach Missy Ringler said. "I think it says a lot about the mental toughness of the team."

Krishna was part of a trio of Rebels who finished in the top 15, as Therese Koelbaek (80-74-75--229, +13) tied for second and freshman Kristen Schelling (82-82-73--237, +21) tied for 14 th. Schelling's final-round 73 (+1) was the lowest round of the tournament for a UNLV player and it was tied for the second-lowest round overall.

"I thought it was a matter of time before Natasha or Therese would win a tournament, and they finished one and two," Ringler said. "It was a great overall team effort and this should give us a lot of momentum heading into the conference championships next week."

UNLV sophomore Alejandra Guacaneme (80-83-81--244, +28) tied for 35th and freshman Bethany Glassford (89-79-81--249, +33) was in a group that tied for 50th. The Rebels also had a pair of individuals playing in the tournament, and Victoria Oros (88-84-88--260, +44) tied for 70th and Stephanie Whatley (88-89-91--268, +52) came in 78th place.

The Rebels will now travel to the Mountain West Conference Championships, which is April 16-18 at Fort Ord Golf Club in Monterey, Calif.