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Update: The University of New Mexico women’s golf team will travel to Columbia, S. Car. and the Lady Gamecock Classic, Mar. 14-16. The tournament will be played at The University Club, the Lady Gamecock’s home course. This will be New Mexico’s first tournament of the spring season.

Format: The tournament consists of 18 holes each of the three days. Start times for the three-day event begin at 8 a.m. all three days. The University Club plays to a par 72 on 5,996 yards.

Tournament Field: There will be 15 teams participating in the Lady Gamecock Classic including (GolfWeek Rank): Alabama, (8) Auburn, (1) Duke, (23) Furman, Florida State, LSU, (12) New Mexico, New Mexico State, (21) Purdue, (19) South Carolina, Texas A&M, (9) Texas, (20) North Carolina, (6) Vanderbilt, (22) Wake Forest.

Lobo Lineup: The UNM lineup for the Lady Gamecock Classic is as follows: Christina Spence, Katrina Leckovic, Kristi Larsen, Kailin Downs and Kelli Van Winkle.

New Mexico in the Rankings: In the latest poll released on Mar. 3 by GolfWeek Magazine, UNM starts the spring season No. 12. The Lobos are also listed at No. 12 in the GolfDigest Women’s Coaches Poll of Feb. 28 and are No. 13 in GolfStat NCAA stats.

In GolfWeek individual rankings, two Lobos are ranked in the top-100 including sophomore Kailin Downs at No. 17, her highest ranking to date. Junior Katrina Leckovic is listed at No. 85. Sophomore Christina Spence is next at No. 106 followed by fellow sophomore Shannon Johnson at No. 126. Junior Kellyn Newman has participated in four tournaments this season and ranks at No. 418.

Two Lobos do not qualify for rankings due to amount of playing time including junior Kristi Larsen who participated in one tournament - the Las Vegas Founders Women’s Intercollegiate where she took the individual title. Freshman Kelli Van Winkle participated in two tournaments this past fall. Fall Recap: The University of New Mexico women’s golf team completed the fall season with two titles, a third-place and two fourth place finishes.

New Mexico started their season hosting the 24th Annual Comcast/Dick McGuire Invitational and taking the title over 19 teams. It was the second straight McGuire title for the young Lobos.

The Lobos then traveled to instate rival NMSU’s Women’s Golf Intercollegiate where they finished in third place with a tournament score fo 904.

At the Stanford Invitational, which included some of the best teams in the nation, the Lobos finished in fourth place out of 17 teams.

Traveling to Hawai’i for the Kent Youel Invitational hosted by the University of Hawai’i, UNM placed fourth with a tournament score of 898.

The last tournament of the schedule was the Las Vegas Founders Women’s Collegiate Showdown where New Mexico came in and took the tournament title by nine-strokes over host UNLV, 880 to 889.

The Lobos, in 15 rounds of play, are averaging rounds of 297, with their season low of 283 scored in the second round of the UNLV Collegiate Showdown. Their tournament low score of 880 was also at the Showdown.

Individual Notes: (alphabetical order) Kailin Downs: •in 15 rounds this season stroke average stands at 73.3 •finished in fourth place in the final three tournaments of the fall season •was named September 2002 Mountain West Conference Women’s Golfer of the Month for her performance at the McGuire (5th place finish out of 105 golfers) •leads the MWC in stroke average (73.3) •shot a career low tournament score fo 216 at the UNLV Showdown (76-70-70) •placed in Top-5 individually in four tournaments; top-15 in the other •is listed No. 17 in GolfWeek individual rankings through five fall tournaments; highest ranking to date •along with teammate Spence was named Dollar Rent-a-Car Academic Athlete of the Year for Women’s Golf

Shannon Johnson: •played in four out of five events for the Lobos •stroke average is 76.3 •shot a season low round of 71 in the second round of the UNLV Collegiate Showdown •best finish of the season was an 8th place at the 2002 McGuire •is listed No. 8 in MWC stroke average •is ranked No. 126 in GolfWeek individual poll (Mar. 3)

Kristi Larsen •came back from a hand injury to win the UNLV Collegiate Showdown in a playoff situation •her individual medalist honor at UNLV was the first tournament win for the junior at UNM •finished with a collegiate tournament low score of 215 (-1) •her final round 69 (-3) is a season low •Larsen was awarded the Leslie Self Inspirational Award - presented to UNM female student-athletes on an annual basis based on leadership, character, determination and commitment to team. Larsen was recognized during a men’s basketball pregame ceremony.

Katrina Leckovic •her tied for fourth place finish at the Stanford Invitational is the best at UNM •70 scored at the Stanford Invite (2nd rd.) and Kent Youel (3rd rd.) ties her collegiate low round •her tournament score of 220 at the Stanford Invite tied her best performance scored at the 2001 McGuire •season stroke average is 75.1, third best on the team •lists third in conference stroke average •is ranked No. 85 in the Nation in GolfWeek rankings

Kellyn Newman •participated in four tournaments in the fall •stroke average stands at 80 •scored a career low round of 72 in the first round of the NMSU Intercollegiate •Newman’s tied for 44th place was a season best performance scored at the Kent Youel Invite •is ranked No. 22 in MWC stroke average

Christina Spence •scored a collegiate career low round of 71 of the second round of the UNLV Collegiate Showdown •also scored a collegiate tournament low score of 224 in Las Vegas •season stroke average is 75.5 •best collegiate finish of tied for 7th scored at the UNLV Collegiate Showdown •ranks No. 4 in MWC season stroke average •one of three Lobos to compete in every tournament during the fall season •is nationally ranked at No. 106 •along with teammate Downs was named Dollar Rent-a-Car Academic Athlete

Kelli Van Winkle •played in two tournaments during the fall schedule - the McGuire (as an individual) and at the Kent Youel Invitational •scored a season low round of 76 in the second round of the Kent Youel Invitaional •season stroke average is 82.7 •qualified for the Lady Gamecock Classic

Season Recaps - Fall 2002 Las Vegas Founders Women’s Collegiate Showdown • Nov. 11-13: The 16th-ranked University of New Mexico women's golf team captured its second tournament title of the season at the Las Vegas Founders Women’s Collegiate Showdown in Las Vegas. New Mexico shot a final round 291 ending up with a tournament score of 880 (+16), nine shots better than host UNLV (889). New Mexico junior Kristi Larsen took medalist honors after a playoff situation with Texas A&M’s Nicole Melton and UNLV’s Sunny Oh.

This was Larsen’s first tournament win at UNM. She finished with a three round score of 215 shooting a final round 69 (-3). This was also Larsen’s first tournament of the season after suffering from a broken hand.

Lobo Kailin Downs finished in sole possession of fourth place, one-shot behind Larsen, Melton and Oh at 216 (76-70-70 • E). Downs finished the tournament scoring back-to-back 70s (-2) . It is the third straight fourth place finish for Downs.

Sophomore Christina Spence had a great tournament placing tied for seventh, her best finish as a Lobo. Spence finished with a three-round score of 224 (76-71-77 • +8). Junior Katrina Leckovic shot a final round 75 and finished tied for 18th with a 230 (81-74-75 • +14). Sophomore Shannon Johnson rounded out the Lobo squad, placing tied for 28th with a 234 (79-71-84 • +14).

The tournament was played at the Anthem Country Club Golf Course in Henderson. The course played to a par 72 on 6,194 yards.

Kent Youel Invitational • Oct. 29-30: The then seventh ranked University of New Mexico women’s golf team finished in fourth place at the 2002 Kent Youel Invitational hosted by the University of Hawaii. The Lobos shot a final round 292 to finish with a tournament score of 898. California took the tournament title with an 870.

Individually Stanford’s Kim Rowton took medalist honors with a 215. New Mexico’s Kailin Downs placed fourth with a tournament score of 218. This was the second straight tournament Down’s finished in fourth place.

Junior Katrina Leckovic shot a final round 70 (-2), which ties her career low round. Leckovic placed tied for 24th with a three-round score of 226. Sophomore Christina Spence placed tied for 26th with a tournament score of 227. Junior Kellyn Newman finished tied for 44th with a 233 followed by freshman Kelli Van Winkle who placed tied for 76th with a 246.

2002 Stanford Invitational Results • Oct. 18-20: The University of New Mexico Lobos jumped two spots and finished in fourth place at the Stanford Pepsi Invitational held in Stanford, Calif. The Lobos shot a final round 295 and finished with a tournament score of 896, 11 shots behind tournament winner Cal (885). New Mexico junior Katrina Leckovic and sophomore Kailin Downs both finished tied for fourth place with 220s (+4).

UNM sophomore Christina Spence finished tied for 22nd place with a tournament round score of 226 while fellow sophomore Shannon Johnson tied for 33rd with a 230. Junior Kellyn Newman finished in 88th place with a 256.

2002 NMSU Intercollegiate Results • Oct. 7-9: The University of New Mexico women's golf team finished in third place at the 2002 Price’s Give’em Five Intercollegiate held in Las Cruces, N.M. The Lobos shot a final round 301 to finish with a tournament score of 904, 10 shots behind tournament winner Baylor (894). Host NMSU finished in second (896). UNM’s Kailin Downs carded a tournament score of 226 (+10) which placed her tied for 15th place.

The three-day event at the University Golf course which played to a par 72 on 6,303 yards.

Junior Katrina Leckovic finished tied for 17th with a 227 (+12). Sophomore Shannon Johnson tied for 20th with a 228 (+13) while Christina Spence placed tied for 26th with a 230 (+15). Junior Kellyn Newman rounded out the Lobos squad tied for 49th with a three-round score of 236 (+20). In their two tournaments to date the Lobos have captured one title and placed third in the other.

2002 McGuire Results • Sept. 26-28: The University of New Mexico Lobos took tournament honors at the 24th Annual Comcast/Dick McGuire Invitational held Sept. 26-28 at the UNM Championship Golf Course. The tournament field was comprised of 19 teams plus several individuals.

The Lobos captured the title by a seven-stroke margin over Washington and Pepperdine, 891 to 898. It was the second straight McGuire title for New Mexico. Battling cool and blustery conditions most of the final round, the Lobos led from wire-to-wire in the 24th annual tournament that featured 19 teams. UNM also won the team title in 1986.

New Mexico played without its top player, Kristi Larsen, who is sidelined with a broken hand. UNM was led by sophomore Kailin Downs, who finished in fifth place at even-par 219. The five-person winning Lobo team was comprised of three sophomores and two juniors.

“We were nervous at the start of the turn because Washington was making a run,” said UNM head coach Jackie Booth. “But we fought back and showed a lot of character. The win last year was big for us, but we only had eight teams participating. It was real important for us to win with a full field. We wanted to win and repeat, not only for oursleves, but to prove to this field that we will be a national contender this year.”

Head Coach Jackie Booth: Head coach Jackie Booth starts her sixth year with the UNM women’s golf program. Booth led the Lobos to postseason action for the fifth straight time in her five year tenure.

While under Booth’s tutelage the Lobos have three-straight MWC Women’s Golf Championships and her athletes have captured Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors. Last season Booth was named 2002 MWC Coach of the Year - her second straight honor at UNM.