Now that they're caught up on their schoolwork, it's time for the 11th-ranked UNM women's golf team to get back on the course.
The Lobos head to Stanford this weekend to compete in the Stanford Pepsi Intercollegiate tournament after a three-and-a-half week break from tournament play.
"It was weird because of the fact that we have to go to school," senior Kailin Downs said of the time off. "But it was good to catch up."
UNM last played in the NCAA Fall Preview in Sunriver, Ore. on Sept. 22 against some of the top teams in the country. The then-10th-ranked Lobos finished in eighth place ahead of No. 9 Stanford and No. 4 USC. No. 3 Duke was the tourney's overall winner.
Head coach Jackie Booth said she was proud of the team's performance in Sunriver and is looking forward to getting back to competing.
"I thought we finished well considering how early in the season it is," Booth said.
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The team can look forward to playing more highly ranked teams this weekend - teams they may face again down the road.
"The Stanford (tournament) has some of the best of the West Coast teams," Booth said. "This will show me, as a coach, how strong the West is in terms of teams we may end up playing in (the postseason)."
The field includes six ranked opponents - No. 3 UCLA, No. 5 Washington, No. 9 Arizona State, No. 14 Texas, No. 15 Pepperdine and No. 22 Southern California.
"The Stanford (tournament) is always a really competitive field," Downs said. "We really want to get back out and show how we can play against those teams."
Downs has already shown she can play with the best after a stellar September in which she was named Mountain West Conference Golfer of the Month. In the month, she posted par or better in five of the six rounds she played.
"Kailin has been great," Booth said. "She's a great example of what a student athlete should be. She's a great leader and also set an example for her teammates."
Downs said it's early, and she can still improve her play.
"It's always an honor," she said of winning the award. "But I don't feel like we've reached our potential yet. I still know I can play better, but I've been shooting below par, so I'm excited to see how the year goes."
The Stanford Pepsi Intercollegiate tournament starts Friday.
