ALBUQUERQUE (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV women's golf team's three individual competitors completed their final round Monday at New Mexico's 42nd Annual Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational with two of the three finishing in the top 18. The event in Albuquerque was the final regular season tournament before the Rebels head to Rancho Mirage, California, next week for the 2021 Mountain West Conference Championship.

Sophomore Elina Saksa, who started the day in a tie for 12th at even, shot a 1-over 73 to finish in a tie for 8th at the same score (1-over 217). It was the fourth top-10 finish in seven tournaments this spring for the Turku, Finland, native. Junior Veronica Joels carded a 2-over 74 in Monday's final round to end the tournament in a tie for 18th at 3-over 219, marking a second straight top-20 finish for the Vegas native to close out the regular season. Freshman Madeleine Laux finished in a tie for 52nd at 16-over.

For the tournament, Saksa sank 10 birdies while Joels dropped 11 over the three rounds.

In the team competition, Denver earned the title after shooting the only under par score of the day at 1-under, finishing at even with a three-shot victory over second-place Pepperdine (3-over 867). Washington came in third at 7-over 871. Individually, Grand Canyon's Carly Strole overtook day one leader Niamh McSherry of Kansas State, capturing medalist honors with a three-shot win at 8-under after a Monday round of 69. Denver's Camille Enright checked in at second place at 5-under 211, followed by Pepperdine's Kaleiya Romero in third at 4-under. 

UP NEXT: With the regular season in the rearview mirror, the Rebels now turn their attention to the Mountain West Conference Championships, which are set for April 20-21 in Rancho Mirage, CA.

NOTES:
• As a team, the Rebels finished in the top five in two of six and in the top 10 in four of six tournaments this spring
• UNLV has five 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.