4/27/2020 12:15:00 PM | Women's Golf
Junior Samantha Fuller and freshman Elina Saksa tabbed second team selections
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -Â Despite the season being cut short, the Mountain West went ahead with its annual all-conference awards, the league office announced Monday. Two UNLV women's golfers - junior Samantha Fuller and freshman Elina Saksa - were tabbed second team selections, marking the eighth straight year the Rebels have garnered at least two honorees on the all-league teams.
The 2019-20 season was the first in Rebel Red for both Fuller and Saksa as Fuller transferred from the junior college ranks and Saksa began her collegiate career in the United States after growing up in Finland. The pair represents the 10th and 11th second team selections in UNLV women's golf history.
Fuller was a standout at Keiser College in Florida, where she was the NAIA Player of the Year and a NAIA First Team All-American after winning the 2019 Sun Conference Individual Championship. The Surrey, England, native continued to excel at UNLV this year, where she recorded the top scoring average on the team - a 73.24 - which ranked fifth overall in the Mountain West. She was having a particularly strong spring, finishing in the top-12 in two of three tournaments, including a season-best sixth place at UNLV's home spring tournament, Rebel Beach. Fuller's top tournament score came at Wisconsin's Westbrook Invite, where she carded a 6-under 210 to tie for 12th, which included a second-round 69 for her lowest single-round score. Overall, Fuller had three top-12 finishes and sunk 54 birdies in her first season.
Saksa, originally from Turku, Finland, turned in a solid first collegiate campaign with her 73.76 scoring average ranking just one spot behind Fuller's in sixth on the Mountain West leaderboard. The highlight of Saksa's season came at the Rebels' fall home tournament, the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, where the freshman captured her first career medalist honor, tying for first at 4-under (212). It came down to the last shot as she sunk a birdie on her final hole to share the individual title. She carded her best single-round score of 69 twice - the first round of the LV Showdown and the second round of the Westbrook Invite - while her lowest tournament score of 4-under came at those same events. Saksa also led all Rebels with 65 birdies in 21 rounds played.
The Rebels have now had 22 all-conference selections under head coach Amy Bush-Herzer since she took over prior to the 2010-11 season.
2019-20 Mountain West All-Conference Awards
Golfer of the Year: Natasha Andrea Oon, So., San José State
Freshman of the Year: Napat Lertsadwattana, New Mexico
First Team
Harriet Lynch, Fresno State
Brigitte Thibault, Fresno State
Gioia Carpinelli, San Diego State
Sara Kjellker, San Diego State
Natasha Andrea Oon, San José State
Second Team
Napat Lertsadwattana, New Mexico
Kajsa Arwefjäll, San José State
Antonia Malate, San José State
Samantha Fuller, UNLV
Elina Saksa, UNLV
The 2019-20 season was the first in Rebel Red for both Fuller and Saksa as Fuller transferred from the junior college ranks and Saksa began her collegiate career in the United States after growing up in Finland. The pair represents the 10th and 11th second team selections in UNLV women's golf history.
Fuller was a standout at Keiser College in Florida, where she was the NAIA Player of the Year and a NAIA First Team All-American after winning the 2019 Sun Conference Individual Championship. The Surrey, England, native continued to excel at UNLV this year, where she recorded the top scoring average on the team - a 73.24 - which ranked fifth overall in the Mountain West. She was having a particularly strong spring, finishing in the top-12 in two of three tournaments, including a season-best sixth place at UNLV's home spring tournament, Rebel Beach. Fuller's top tournament score came at Wisconsin's Westbrook Invite, where she carded a 6-under 210 to tie for 12th, which included a second-round 69 for her lowest single-round score. Overall, Fuller had three top-12 finishes and sunk 54 birdies in her first season.
Saksa, originally from Turku, Finland, turned in a solid first collegiate campaign with her 73.76 scoring average ranking just one spot behind Fuller's in sixth on the Mountain West leaderboard. The highlight of Saksa's season came at the Rebels' fall home tournament, the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, where the freshman captured her first career medalist honor, tying for first at 4-under (212). It came down to the last shot as she sunk a birdie on her final hole to share the individual title. She carded her best single-round score of 69 twice - the first round of the LV Showdown and the second round of the Westbrook Invite - while her lowest tournament score of 4-under came at those same events. Saksa also led all Rebels with 65 birdies in 21 rounds played.
The Rebels have now had 22 all-conference selections under head coach Amy Bush-Herzer since she took over prior to the 2010-11 season.
2019-20 Mountain West All-Conference Awards
Golfer of the Year: Natasha Andrea Oon, So., San José State
Freshman of the Year: Napat Lertsadwattana, New Mexico
First Team
Harriet Lynch, Fresno State
Brigitte Thibault, Fresno State
Gioia Carpinelli, San Diego State
Sara Kjellker, San Diego State
Natasha Andrea Oon, San José State
Second Team
Napat Lertsadwattana, New Mexico
Kajsa Arwefjäll, San José State
Antonia Malate, San José State
Samantha Fuller, UNLV
Elina Saksa, UNLV
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Golf
Monday, October 26
Saturday, October 24
Friday, October 23
Tuesday, October 20
