Oct. 25, 2011
Results
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (UNLVRebels.com) - The No. 17 UNLV men's golf team has turned in a fall season hat trick of sorts as it won its third tournament title in four events to close out the fall slate. With a 54-hole total of 34-under par at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate, which was completed with a final round on Tuesday, the Rebels won the event by eight shots. The tournament was played at New Mexico State University Golf Course (par 71, 7,074 yards).
UNLV shot a final-round 9-under 275 and finished at 34-under 818. Wichita State shot a final-round 12-under 272, but finished at 26-under 826 for the tournament to place second. Host New Mexico State was third at 5-under 847, while UNR was fourth at 3-over 855 and Kansas rounded out the top five at 4-over 856.
The Rebels had three players finish in the top six individually and were led by sophomore Nicholas Maruri who finished third at 11-under 202 after a final-round 1-under 70. Senior Derek Ernst was fourth at 9-under (70), while junior Kevin Pennerwas sixth at 6-under (67). Medalist honors went to Wichita State's Hunter Sparks who finished the tournament at 14-under 199 for a two-shot victory after a final-round 5-under 66.
UNLV freshman Carl Jonson finished tied for 14th at 1-under (68), while sophomore Blake Biddletied for 24th at 3-over (74).
"We are very proud of the guys," UNLV head coach Dwaine Knightsaid. "All three of these wins are special, obviously, but we had an amazing performance at 34-under as a team this week. To play at this level for three out of four tournaments, we are just really proud.
"Nicholas played a big tournament for us as he had a chance to win entering the round today - and still put up a solid round. He will really help our depth down the line. And Derek and Kevin both had top finishes again, that is a potent group. Our freshman Carl shot a 68 today, which was a big round for us. Everyone is contributing, this was definitely a team victory."
UNLV's spring season will begin in February at the John Burns Intercollegiate in Hawaii.
