ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (UNLVRebels.com) – In the opener of its 25th season, the UNLV women's golf team won the program's first team title at New Mexico's Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational Tuesday at UNM Championship Course (Par 72, 6,354 yards).
REBEL FINISH: The only team to shoot under par in the final round, the Rebels climbed to the top of the leaderboard with a 4-under 284 after previously sitting three shots behind 36-hole leader Pepperdine in third place. They completed the comeback by using matching 1-under 71 scorecards from each of its four scorers, among which were senior
Zi Yu Foong, junior
Amber Chen, as well as sophomores
Lana Yamagata and
Demi Du.
REBEL ROUNDUP: Every player in UNLV's lineup finished in the top 15, including tied-for-sixth efforts at 3-under 213 by Chen (71-71-71) and Yamagata (70-72-71), who notched her career-high finish. Next in line, freshman
Kuree Little tied for eighth at 1-under 215 in her Rebel debut, Foong (+1) tied for 12th and Du (+2) finished in sole possession of 14th. Also making her debut, freshman
Addison Hines (+15) tied for 57th playing as an individual.
FINAL LEADERBOARD: The Scarlet & Gray concluded the tournament at 10-under 854, edging Pepperdine by one shot and the host Lobos by seven.
QUOTABLE: "Starting our 25th anniversary year with a win at this tournament sets an incredible tone for the entire season. I couldn't be more proud of how our team competed, stayed disciplined down the stretch and represented UNLV. To kick off such a milestone year for our program with a team championship in New Mexico is a testament to the hard work these student-athletes put in every day, and it gives us fantastic momentum moving forward."
-UNLV Head Coach Amy Bush-Herzer
NOTES:
- In addition to making history with the program's first win at the event, this was also the Rebels' third victory in their last five tournaments. Their recent string of first-place team performances include the 2026 Mountain West Championship and the Jackrabbits Invitational this past spring.
- Along with that, the Scarlet & Gray has now won the team title in two of its past three regular season tournaments.
- This marked UNLV's 16th team victory under head coach Amy Bush-Herzer, who is in her 16th season at the helm of the UNLV women's golf program.
