The UNM women's golf team dominated the competition in the 23rd Annual Comcast/Dick McGuire Invitational, winning by five strokes at the UNM Championship Golf Course this weekend.
The Lobos used a record setting first day of competition and four players finishing in the top 10 to cruise to a victory and win the tournament for the first time since 1986.
UNM shot a 1-under-par 875 in the two-day tournament to set a new course team tournament record to easily outlast the competition. The closest opposition was I-25 rival New Mexico State University, who shot a 4-over-par 880 to take second place.
Leading the way for the Lobos was senior Claudia Ferrini, who shot a 3-under-par 216 to take third in the individual battles. Sophomore Kristi Larsen finished in fourth place, shooting an even par 219.
Stephanie Dukes of Texas Tech University won the tournament by shooting a 6-under-par 213, winning by two strokes.
The tournament was cut from three days to two because of the terrorist attacks on Tuesday and only eight of the original 18 teams scheduled to play in the tournament made the trip to Albuquerque.
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With the tournament shortened to two days, teams played the first and second rounds on Friday and the final round on Saturday. The Lobos blew the opposition away in the 36-hole shotgun format, leading the entire tournament from start to finish.
The Lobos shot an opening round 294 to take a two-stroke advantage going into the second round. After using the first 18 holes as a warm-up, UNM got hot in the second round and pulled away from the field. The Lobos went on to shoot a 289, setting a course record with the lowest second round score. With the tremendous play on Friday, the Lobos set a course record for the lowest 36-hole team score with a 577 and had a comfortable seven-stroke lead going into the final round.
Ferrini also set records, shooting a 140 in the two rounds to set an individual course record. She clung to a two-stroke lead going into the final round.
Saturday's final round was just a coronation for the Lobos, who were unthreatened in the last 18 holes of the tournament.
While the Lobos had an easy final round, Ferrini struggled to hold on to the lead. She shot a final round 76 and saw two players pass her for the results.
Sophomore Katrina Leckovic took sixth place, shooting a 1-over 220 and freshman Kailin Downs shot a 3-over 222 to finish in the 10th position.
Staff Report
