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Update: The University of New Mexico women’s golf team heads to Temecula, Calif. and the Pioneer Electronics/UCLA Bruin Classic, Mar. 24-26. The tournament will be played at Valley Course at the Robinson Ranch Golf Club.

Format: The tournament consists of 18 holes with an 8 a.m starting time each day. The Valley Course plays to a par 72 on 5,408 yards.

Tournament Field: There will be 20 teams participating in the UCLA Classic including: BYU, Cal, Cal State-Northridge, Long Beach State, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Oregon, Oregon State, Pepperdine, Portland State, San Francisco, San Jose State, Stanford, Texas Tech, UC Irvine, USC, host UCLA (will field two teams), Washington, Washington State.

Lobo Lineup: The UNM lineup for the UCLA Bruin Classic is as follows: Kristi Larsen, Kailin Downs, Katrina Leckovic, Christina Spence and Shannon Johnson.

New Mexico in the Rankings: In the latest poll released on Mar. 18 by GolfWeek Magazine, UNM drops one to No. 13. 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 sophomore Kailin Downs ranks No. 24 in the nation. Sophomore Christina Spence is next at No. 103 followed by junior Katrina Leckovic who comes in at No. 105. Sophomore Shannon Johnson ranks No. 133 while junior Kellyn Newman is listed at No. 426. Freshman Kelli Van Winkle is listed at No. 847.

Junior Kristi Larsen who has only participated in two tournaments this season - the Las Vegas Founders Women’s Intercollegiate, where she took the individual title, and last weekend where she tied for ninth at the Lady Gamecock Classic, does not qualify for rankings.

Last Time • Lady Gamecock Recap (Mar. 14-16): The 12th-ranked University of New Mexico women's golf team finished in sixth place at the Lady Gamecock Classic after the final two rounds of the tournament were cancelled due to inclement weather.

UNM shot a first round 309 and finished 13 shots behind tournament winner Wake Forest (296). Rounding out the top five teams included top-ranked Duke (300) in second, Texas (301) in third, while Auburn and host South Carolina finished tied for fourth with 302s.

Junior Kristi Larsen led the Lobos and placed tied for ninth after shooting a first round 74 (+2). Sophomore Kailin Downs finished tied for 27th with a 77 (+5) while fellow sophomore Christina Spence placed tied for 30th with a 78.

Junior Katrina Leckovic tied for 48th place with an 80. Freshman Kelli Van Winkle rounded out the Lobo squad sitting in 81st place after shooting a 93.

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

Lobos Women's Golf

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