SEAL BEACH, CA (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV women's golf team was back in action Monday at Long Beach State's Gold Rush tournament, completing two rounds at Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach, California.

As a team, the Rebels finished day one in second place after shooting a 21-over 597 through the first 36 holes, while Elina Saksa used a 5-under 67 second round to find herself in a tie for second at 2-under heading into Tuesday's final round. Saksa sank eight birdies in the second round alone and 12 total on the day. The 67 was also a single-round career low for the Turku, Finland native. Her previous low was 69, which she shot twice as a freshman last season.

Overall, the Rebels had a strong day in California, as four of five Rebels competing sit in the top-20, including three in the top-11. Behind Saksa, junior Veronica Joels and freshman Madeleine Laux, who finished top-15 in her first collegiate tournament last week, each carded a 7-over 151 through to sit tied for 11th followed by senior Samantha Fuller in a tie for 19th at 10-over 154. Freshman Gracie Olkowski ended the day in 56th place after shooting at 24-over 168.


In the team standings, USC built a commanding lead Monday, leading the field at 4-under after two rounds of 290. Fresno State checks in behind UNLV in third at 31-over 607, followed by Sacramento State in fourth at 34-over 610 and Cal Poly in fifth at 37-over 613. USC's Allisen Corpuz has a two-shot lead at 4-under heading into Tuesday, while teammate Alyaa Abdulghany is tied with Saksa at 2-under in second place. Trojan Malia Nam and UC Irvine's Sienna Lyford round it out in a tie for fourth at 1-over. 

NEXT FOR THE REBELS: Play for the final round of the Gold Rush will begin at 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

NOTES:
• This Rebels have competed in the Gold Rush event three of the last four years
• UNLV have seven returners from last year along with two freshmen newcomers - Madeleine Laux and Gracie Olkowski
• Head coach Amy Bush-Herzer is in her 10th year at the helm of the program. She has led her team to a conference championship four times.