April 20, 2016 Final Results | Photo Gallery
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) - No. 17 UNLV women's golf shot an even-par 288 in the final round of the Mountain West Championships on Wednesday to win the conference championship for the fifth time in school history with a team score of 13-over 877 (295-294-288) at the par-72, 6,324 yard, Dinah Shore Tournament Course at the Mission Hills Country Club. Junior Alexandra Kaui shot a 3-under 69 in the final round to finish at 4-under 212 (72-71-69), taking home the individual Mountain West Championship.
The 2016 Mountain West Championship for the Rebels is the first for the program since 2013 and the second under sixth-year head coach Amy Bush-Herzer's tenure. UNLV defeated No. 22 San Diego State (296-304-286) by nine strokes, the second biggest margin of victory for UNLV in the MW Championship. In 2013 the Rebels beat runner-up Boise State by 12 strokes. The first place finish for the Rebels is the third tournament win in the 2015-16 campaign after winning the Battle at Boulder Creek II on March 8 and tying for first place in the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown on Oct. 27 and the fifth first place finish under Bush-Herzer.
"I really didn't know what to expect this year," said Bush-Herzer. "We were young and brought in a lot of new faces. This team really came through and shined in the spring. I'm really proud of what they've done."
Bush-Herzer was named MW Coach of the Year following the tournament. She has now been named the coach of the year in the conference twice, previously earning the honor in the 2012-13 season. She is also the second coach in UNLV history to win the award twice with Missy Ringler winning it in 2003-04 and 2005-06.
Kaui topped Colorado State's Katrina Prendergast (71-73-73) by five strokes for the largest individual winning margin in MW Championship history, topping the previous record of four that was shared by former UNLV women's golfer Therese Koelbaek. Kaui is the fifth individual conference championship winner for UNLV and the first since Koelbaek in 2011.
"Usually I'm always nervous, at least on the first tee," said Alexandra Kaui. "But for some reason, this tournament I wasn't. I would just walk up to the tee and know what kind of shot I wanted and hit it. I hit good shots and played it smart. For the short putts I just had good speed."
Entering the final round with a one stroke lead over Prendergast, Kaui birdied three of four par-5 holes (two, nine and 11) and the par-3 hole 17 and had just one bogey to finish the day three strokes below par. Her 4-under 212 is tied for the second lowest 54 hole score in conference championship history.
"I'm excited for her," said Bush-Herzer. "I always say I'm a mom to these girls, and I'm a proud mom today. She works her tail off and she gets what she deserved when she comes out and does great things."
Sophomore Mackenzie Raim finished in fourth place at 3-over 219 (73-75-71). She birdied the second hole and was one of two golfers to not record a bogey on the day. Sophomore Harley Dubsky tied for seventh place with a score of 7-over 223 (73-76-74). Freshman Kaylee Benton had her best round of golf in the championship, shooting a 2-over 74 to finish tied for 13th place at 10-over 226 (77-75-74). Freshman Elizabeth Prior tied for 19th place at 13-over 229 (77-73-79).
The Mountain West Championship served place as to whether UNLV or Nevada, Reno will receive three points in the Governor's Series contest, the all-sports competition between the two schools that is presented by NV Energy and Barrick Gold. Nevada, Reno finished 48 strokes behind UNLV in seventh place. Women's golf has now claimed the three points for UNLV in all four years of the competition.
