RANCHO MIRAGE  (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV women's golf team kicked off the 2021 Mountain West Championship Tuesday with the first two rounds on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at the Mission Hills Country Club. The Rebels ended day one in sixth place after shooting a 28-over 604 as a team through 36 holes.

Three Rebels - junior Veronica Joels, freshman Gracie Olkowski and sophomore Elina Saksa - all sit in the top 13, with Joels leading the way in a tie for third at even. Joels opened the day with a 3-under 69, sinking six birdies over the first 18 holes and had eight total on Tuesday. Olkowski shot a 74 and 73 Tuesday to sit in 10th place, while Saksa came in three shots behind Olkowski at 6-over to sit tied for 13th. Freshman Madeleine Laux and sophomore Aliyah Williams rounded it for the Rebels at 19-over and 28-over in 41st and 44th, respectively.

San Diego State is atop the leaderboard heading into Wednesday's final round after shooting a 6-over 582 in the first two rounds. The Aztecs have an 11-shot lead over New Mexico and Fresno State, who are tied for second at 17-over, followed by San Jose and UNR in a tie for fourth 26-over. SDSU's Sara Kjellker holds a slim one-shot lead over Fresno State's Harriet Lynch after shooting a 2-under 142 Tuesday. Joels will enter the final round within striking distance as she is just two shots off Kjelker's lead.

UP NEXT: The third and final round will get underway Wednesday with tee times beginning at 7 a.m. The Rebels will tee off as follows: Aliyah Williams - 7:45 a.m.; Madeleine Laux - 7:54 a.m.; Elina Saksa - 8:03 a.m.; Gracie Olkowski - 8:12 a.m.; Veronica Joels 8:21 a.m.

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.