Women's Golf 10/29/2019 6:02:00 PM

Rebels Capture Team, Individual Titles At Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown

Women's golf earns team championship by eight shots, while freshman Elina Saksa is co-medalist in Boulder City.

BOULDER CITY, Nev. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV women's golf team shot a final-round 1-under-par 287 Tuesday, winning its first tournament title of the season at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, which was hosted by the Rebels at Boulder Creek Golf Club (par 72, 6,277 yards).

UNLV's 54-hole total of 15-over 879 earned it the tournament championship by eight shots. San Francisco finished second at 23-over, followed by Long Beach State (+24), South Dakota State (+26) and Fresno State (+27).

Individually, UNLV freshman Elina Saksa earned her first career title as she was co-medalist with East Tennessee State's Tereza Melecka. The pair shot 4-under 212 for the event, finishing six shots ahead of a trio that tied for third at 2-over.

Saksa's approach on her final hole of the tournament landed about three feet away from the cup and she made her putt for birdie to tie for first.

There were a total of 18 teams and 96 individuals competing.

QUOTABLE: "We came into this week with no expectations, but you always hope the home-course advantage does something for your team. We have been playing a very challenging schedule this fall. We really did some great things this week and it was nice to finally perform. Any time you bring new student-athletes together, you don't know what you are going to get, but it all came together and is a great way to start our offseason. It was really fun this week for us." UNLV head coach Amy Bush.

"It feels really good (on earning co-medalist honors). The tournament just finished but it is starting to sink in now. I am just happy and it shows that hard work pays off (on the team win). We have worked so hard this fall and finally this last tournament it paid off." - Saksa

STAT OF THE DAY: Saksa and Melecka were the only players under par for the tournament.

REBEL OF THE DAY: The best score during the final round by a UNLV player was Veronica Joels' 2-under 70. The sophomore finished the event at 3-over, tying for sixth.

NOTABLE:
• This is UNLV's fourth all-time win at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown (since 2002) and its second in the last three years.
• It was UNLV's final tournament of the fall.
• The Rebels have a new look with just three returners from last year's roster. Six new faces have joined the 2019-20 squad.
• Prior to the 2018-19 season, UNLV had won three straight Mountain West titles and made a NCAA postseason appearance in 16 consecutive years.
• Head coach Amy Bush-Herzer is in her ninth year at the helm of the program. She has led her team to a conference championship four times.

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Players Mentioned

Veronica Joels: 5' 8"; Sophomore; 1L

Elina Saksa: 5' 6"; Freshman; HS

Players Mentioned

Veronica Joels
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; 1L

Elina Saksa
: 5' 6"; Freshman; HS