Las Vegas, Nevada (December 1, 2010)–The UNLV women’s golf team has received signed national letters of intent from Mayko Chwen Wang, Dana Finkelstein and Marquerite Swearingen to enroll at UNLV and play golf for the Rebels starting with the 2011-12 season, announced head coach Amy Bush. “We are thrilled these student-athletes have chosen to attend UNLV,” said Bush.“ They all bring excellent golfing experience and winning attitudes to our team. The addition of these three student-athletes will help continue the success of UNLV women’s golf and I look forward to coaching them in 2011.” The three are each ranked in the junior Golfweek Top 100.–Staff report with UNLV Sports Information.
Mayko Chwen Wang is the 48th-ranked golfer in the 2011 class according to Golfweek and has steadily improved her game since coming to the United States as a freshman. The Taiwan-born native picked up her first America Junior Golf Association win in 2009. “Mayko has world-wide playing experience,” said Bush. “Her experiences will be a wonderful addition to our team and her all-inclusive golf game makes her very fun to watch out on the course.” The Lady Rebels play and practice at Las Vegas golf courses, including DragonRidge Country Club and Boulder Creek Golf Club. Las Vegas resort golf courses Boulder Creek is the site of the team's annual home tournaments. Click now to view the Las Vegas Golf Region's Boulder Creek.
Finkelstein, a Chandler, Arizona native, is a senior at Corona del Sol High School. She is ranked No. 59 in the 2011 class according to Golfweek. She played the No. 1 slot for Corona all four years and was voted the team MVP in both 2009 and 2010. “I really liked the facilities and golf courses that UNLV has access to,” said Finkelstein. “I am looking forward to playing collegiate golf, helping my team win and succeeding as an individual.”
Finkelstein carried a 35.00 scoring average for nine holes and took first place at the Tempe Invitational with a round of 69 and at the Tempe City Tournament after putting together rounds of 35, 36, 31. She finished sixth at the Arizona State High School 5A Championship that included the low-round score of 69 on the second day and was also named a Scholar-Athlete all four years of high school. “Dana brings many tournament accolades to our team,” said Bush. “She knows how to score and has a phenomenal short game that will be very useful for the variety of courses we play around the country.”
In 2009 Finkelstein was named the Southwest PGA Junior Player of the Year and took second at the Junior State Championship. She tied for first place at the AJGA Las Vegas Junior Tournament and finished fourth at the AJGA Randy Smith Junior Tournament. This past year, she captured fourth-place finishes at both the AJGA’s Las Vegas Junior and Ping Phoenix Junior Tournaments in addition to winning the Phoenix City Championship in which she set a personal and course record with rounds of 66 and 69. Finkelstein also considered San Diego State, New Mexico State and Northern Arizona.
Marguerite Swearingen, known as “Grete”, is from Livermore, Calif., where she is currently a senior at Granada High School. The No. 97-ranked golfer in the 2011 class according to Golfweek, Marguerite has been playing golf since she was nine years old. This past season she captured first place in the East Bay Athletic League after carrying a scoring average of 35.50. She also won medalist honors with a 69 at the league championship and has been an All-EBAL performer all four years while at Granada. “It clicked for me on my first unofficial visit,” said Swearingen. “I just pictured myself there. I’m intrigued by the desert courses and look forward to traveling with the team and the college experience. I am eager to work towards building my game to compete at the highest level.”
She carried a 74.70 scoring average this past summer, winning three tournaments in the process. At the Mary Cave Cup, Swearingen and her partner picked up a third place finish in the two-day event. Swearingen also considered TCU, UC Davis, San Francisco and Sacramento State when making her decision. “Marguerite has an awesome attitude both on and off the course,” added Bush. “She loves competition and truly respects the game of golf and will be a great addition to our golf family here.” The Rebels will resume action in the spring of 2011 with the Bruin/Wave Invitational held at the Robinson Ranch Golf Club in Santa, Clarita, Calif., Feb. 28- March 2.