"Conference champions" is becoming an all-too-familiar phrase for the UNM women's golf team when it competes in the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
The Lobos won their third straight title on Wednesday in Bend, Ore.
UNM trailed by four strokes heading into the final round but shot a blistering 284 to win running away from the competition. The Lobos won by 11 strokes with an 882 to capture their 12th conference title since the program's inception in 1979. UNM's longest championship streak is four straight from 1993-1996, when the Lobos were in the Western Athletic Conference.
UNM freshman Kailin Downs was named freshman and player of the year, the first-time a golfer has swept both awards in the conference's three-year history. Head coach Jackie Booth was honored for the second straight year as coach of the year.
In individual tournament competition, UNM sophomore Kristi Larsen finished tied for second place, a career best, to pace the Lobo squad. Larsen finished with a 5-over par, 218. Colorado State freshman Lynette Duran won the individual title with a three-day total of 3-over par, 216.
All five Lobos placed in the top-10, with Downs finishing tied for fourth with a 7-over par, 220. Sophomore Katrina Leckovic finishing in eighth with a 10-over par, 223, while senior Claudia Ferrini and freshman Shannon Johnson both tied for 10th with scores of 12-over par, 225.
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The Lobos opened the tournament on fire, shooting a first round record of 293 to open up a three-shot lead heading into the second round. But UNM struggled on the second day, shooting a 305 to trail San Diego State University by four strokes going into Wednesday.
Ferrini, Larsen, Downs and Leckovic helped UNM place a record four players on the all-conference team.
Staff Report
