April 24, 2016
UNLVGolf on TWITTER | 2016 MW Championship Results | Photos
TUCSON, Ariz. (UNLVRebels.com) - For the first time since 2002, the No. 25 UNLV men's golf team won the Mountain West Championship. The Rebels won their third MW team title after shooting a final-round-low 9-under 279 on Sunday, winning the tournament by three shots over New Mexico at the Catalina Course at Omni Tucson National Resort (par 712 7,194 yards).
"We were just really happy to be able to win a ring for AJ (McInerney)," UNLV head coach Dwaine Knight said. "Obviously with him being our team captain and not being able to participate, it was a real focal point for the guys to get him that before he graduates. Of course, I am also proud of the team having such a stellar performance this weekend. We have had a lot of heartbreak at this tournament in the past, losing by just one shot several times. So for us to be able to come through this time, it really is a sweet victory."
UNLV came from two shots back as the final round began and finished the 54-hole event at 18-under 846. New Mexico finished in second at 15-under, while Fresno State finished third at 5-under. San Diego State and Colorado State tied for fourth at 4-under to round out the top five.
UNLV has now won three of its last four events with a second-place showing during that span. Overall, the Rebels have captured four team titles in 11 events this season.
"We are really playing at a high level right now," Knight said. "One of the things that has really helped us during this stretch is that the low scores are very competitive, but our high scores have been around 72 or 73. That is where you really are good as a team. We have had that during this run and that is great to see."
The Rebels, who had finished in second or third place in each of the last seven MW tournaments, recorded the lowest team score in both the second and third rounds.
Fresno State's Trevor Clayton won the individual championship by two shots at 9-under 207 after a final-round 3-under 69. UNR's Corey Eddings, who held the first- and second-round leads, finished second at 7-under.
UNLV senior Zane Thomas finished in a three-way tie for third at 6-under 210 after a final-round 5-under 67. Rebel sophomore John Oda and freshman Harry Hall also finished in the top 10 individually as they both tied for eighth at 4-under 212. Oda shot even-par 72 during the final round, while Hall fired a 4-under 68.
Other Rebel players: sophomore Shintaro Ban tied for 15th at 2-under 214 after a final-round 1-over 73 and sophomore Ben Davis tied for 22nd at 1-over 217 after a final-round even-par 72.
There were a total of 11 teams and 55 individuals competing.
By finishing ahead of Nevada, Reno in the standings (UNR finished seventh at 2-over), the Rebels earned three more points in the Governor's Series, presented by NV Energy and Barrick Gold. The competition between UNLV and UNR is in its fourth year and is a head-to-head athletic and academic challenge between the longtime rivals. UNLV won the first three Governor's Series competitions and now leads this year's 19.5-16.5 with 12 points left to be decided.
The 2015-16 All-MW Team will be announced later this week, while the field for the 2016 NCAA Men's Golf Regionals will be announced on the Golf Channel on Thursday, May 5.
