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).
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.
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.
The Scarlet & Gray concluded the tournament at 10-under 854, edging Pepperdine by one shot and the host Lobos by seven.
“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