November 6, 2007–UNLV women’s golf shot its best team score of the season on Wednesday and the Rebels finished 11th at its own tournament, the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, which was held at Las Vegas golf course Angel Park Golf Club. The Rebels posted a seven-over 296, which was the fourth-lowest score of the day and the team finished with a three-round total of 906 (+42), just two strokes away from a top 10 showing in a tournament that featured 10 teams in Golfweek’s latest top 30 poll. Denver University ran away with the team title, cruising to a total score of six-under 858 and finishing 11 strokes ahead of Arizona, which had a team total of 869 (+5).
The Pioneers had three players near the top of the leaderboard, including Katie Kempter, who took home medalist honors with an eight-under 208 (67-69-72) over three days on the par-72, 6,050-yard course. Alison Walshe of Arizona and Chelsea Benton of Denver tied for second with scores of five-under 211. UNLV was paced by its outstanding rookie pair of Therese Koelbaek and Alejandra Guacaneme, who both finished in the top 35 on the leaderboard.
Koelbaek turned in an even-par round on Wednesday, rolling in three birdies to go with 13 pars, one bogey and an uncharacteristic double-bogey on the par-four seventh. Koelbaek was at one-under before the double bogey, but she birdied the par-five eighth to get back to even and rolled in three pars to close her round.
Guacaneme posted her lowest score of the tournament on its final day, shooting a two-over 74 for a three-day total of 225 (+9) as she finished tie for 35th overall. She was four over with seven holes to play, but rolled in birdies on par-three sixth and the par-five eighth to finish strong in the first home tournament of her career.
Rebel sophomore Natasha Krishna (79-76-73—228, +12) finished tied for 51st, senior Tonya Choate (72-79-76—237, +21) tied for 78th and Kasi Lee (79-85-83—247, +31) tied for 88th to close out the squad’s scorecard.
UNLV also had two players competing as individuals as Melissa Mabanta (79-75-78—232, +16) tied for 67th and Nicole McGirr (83-78-80—241, +25) tied for 80th.
The Rebels wrap up their fall season next week, traveling to the USF/Richmond Country Club Invitational, which is hosted by the University of San Francisco and played at the Olympic Club on Nov. 5 and 6.
UNLV TEAM SCORE
11. UNLV 305-306-295—906 (+42)
UNLV INDIVIDUALS
T11. Therese Koelbaek 72-75-72—219 (+3)
T35. Alejandra Guacaneme 75-76-74—225 (+9)
T51. Natasha Krishna 79-76-73—228 (+12)
T67. Melissa Mabanta * 79-75-78—232 (+16)
T78. Tonya Choate 82-79-76—237 (+21)
T80. Nicole McGirr * 83-78-80—241 (+25)
T88. Kasi Lee 79-85-83—247 (+31)
*Playing as an individual
Report: From UNLV Sports Info, Bryan Haines