UNLV junior Harley Dubsky
(UNLV Athletics Photo)
RANCHO MIRAGE, CA (April 19, 2017) - For the second consecutive year UNLV has captured the Mountain West Conference Women's Championship. Playing at Dinah Shore Tournament Course at the Mission Hills Country Club the Rebels finished 4-over and as three-stroke winners over San Diego State.
Elizabeth Prior, who recorded a hole-in-one on Tuesday, led the UNLV charge during the tournament with a tied for fourth 2-under showing. Prior combined rounds of 73-70-71 and on Wednesday she birdied four-times and bogeyed three-times during her 1-under round.
Three other UNLV Rebels turned in top-15 performances; Alexandra Kaui (T6; E), Harley Dubsky (T6; E) and Mackenzie Raim (12th; +6).
In the medalist race Fernanda Escauriza of San Diego State overcame a three-stroke deficit to win the title. Escaurize carded a final round 2-under 70 to tally a 6-under finish.
After a 1-over 37 opening nine for the freshman it looked like a victory might not be in the cards but on the closing nine, Escaurize flipped a switch and surged to the finish line with a bogey-free 3-under 33 back nine that included 10th, 16th and 18th hole birdies.
San Jose State teammates My Leander (-4) and Abegail Arevalo (-3) finished second and third respectively while 36-hole leader Manon Molle of New Mexico joined UNLV's Prior in fourth place at 2-under.
Molle had been in search of her second consecutive MWC individual title.
36-HOLE RECAP
Reigning champion UNLV will have a chance to repeat on Wednesday at the Mountain West Conference Women's Golf Championship.
The Rebels will enter the final round at Dinah Shore Tournament Course at the Mission Hills Country Club 1-over and a stroke in front of second place San Diego State. San Jose State is 11-over and in third, Fresno State and New Mexcio are sharing fourth at 15-over.
UNLV has been powered to the lead by a trio of players in the top-five of the individual standings. Harley Dubsky opened with a 3-under 69 on Monday before following that up with a 1-over 73 in the second round and she is presently the low Rebel in fourth place at 2-under.
One shot behind Dubsky are Elizabeth Prior and Alexandra Kaui in a tie for fifth at 1-under.
Prior had the highlight of the day for UNLV with a hole-in-one on the 145 yard par-3 17th.
In the medalist race New Mexico's Manon Molle will carry a three-stroke advantage into the final round. Molle, from France, is in search of her second consecutive MWC individual title.
So far this week Molle has combined tallies of 68-69 to reach 7-under. During the second Molle, a senior, started quickly with four birdies on the first six holes. Overall Molle birdies six-times and bogeyed three-times.
My Leander (San Jose State) and Fernanda Escauriza (San Diego Satte) are tied for second at 4-under and right in front of the UNLV trio.
ABOUT THE
MWC Women's Championship
54-hole stroke-play event to crown the champion of
the
Mountain West Conference. Team (best four scores
out
of five players each round) and individual
competitions.
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