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Update: Making their sixth straight appearance in NCAA Regional postseason action the University of New Mexico womens golf team will travel to Lincoln, Neb. for the 2003 Central Regional hosted by the University of Nebraska, May 8-10.

Format: The tournament consists of 18 holes with a 8:30 a.m.(CST) start all three days. The Firethorn Golf Club plays to a par 71 on 6,023 yards.

Tournament Field: There will be 21 teams participating in the NCAA Central Regional including (GolfWeek Ranking 4/28): Arkansas (43), Baylor (30), California (8), Florida (11), Indiana (33), Kansas State (40), Kent State (32), Michigan State (36), Missouri (37), host Nebraska (48), New Mexico (12), Oklahoma (21), Purdue (22), Southern University (163), TCU (29), Tennessee (10), Texas (4), Texas A & M (52), Tulsa (18), Wisconsin (58), Yale (99).

Eight teams plus two individuals not affiliated with said teams, will advance from three regionals to the 2003 NCAA Womens Golf Championships, slated for May 20-23 in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue University will host nationals.

Lobo Lineup: The UNM lineup for the NCAA Central Regional includes: Kailin Downs, Katrina Leckovic, Christina Spence, Shannon Johnson and Kellyn Newman.

New Mexico in the Rankings: In the latest poll released on Apr. 28 by GolfWeek Magazine, UNM maintains its position at No. 12. The Lobos climb one spot to No. 12 in the GolfDigest Womens Coaches Poll of April 11 and drop one spot in GolfStat NCAA stats (Apr. 29) to No. 15.

In GolfWeek individual rankings the Lobos have three players ranked in the top-100 including sophomore Kailin Downs who ranks No. 20. Junior Katrina Leckovic climbs 14 spots to No. 65 while sophomore Christina Spence is listed at No. 94. Sophomore Shannon Johnson ranks No. 183, while junior Kellyn Newman is listed at No. 463. Junior Kristi Larsen along with freshman Kelli Van Winkle have not participated in enough tournament rounds to qualify for individual rankings.

Last Time MWC Championships (Apr. 24-26): The University of New Mexico captured their fourth straight victory at the 2003 Mountain West Conference Championships held in Bend, Ore. The Lobos took tournament honors by one-shot over a talented UNLV team 890-891. Junior Katrina Leckovic took her first tournament title as a Lobo by a two-shot margin over UNLV and MWC Freshman of the Year Sunny Oh. Leckovic sealed the victory for the Lobos by parring the final hole while Oh bogeyed. For her efforts Leckovic was named All-Conference for the second straight year.

Sophomore Kailin Downs, who finished in third place individually, captured the MWC Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive year. Downs finished with a 73.8 stroke averaged which topped the conference leaderboard. As a team, New Mexico struggled after the first round under difficult weather conditions, including snow each of the three days. UNM shot a first-round 316 but bounced back in the second round, shaving off 36 strokes and setting a new MWC single round record of 280. Three Lobos scored sub par rounds including Leckovics second round 67, which was not only a personal best, but also set a new conference mark. Downs shot a 70 while fellow sophomore Christina Spence shot a career low 69. The Lobos went into the final round tied with the Rebels.

After all was said and done, New Mexico placed four members on the All-Conference team including Downs and Leckovic (two-time honorees), plus Spence and sophomore Shannon Johnson.

Head coach Jackie Booth clinched a three-peat as the 2003 MWC Coach of the Year. Booth led the Lobos this season to three tournament titles (to date) and garnered the honor for the third straight year.

Individual Notes: (alphabetical order)

Kailin Downs:

• in 25 rounds this season stroke average stands at 73.7
• named the MWCs Player of the Year for the second straight year
• named to the 2002-03 MWC All-Conference team for the second straight year
• scored her best finish of the season to date with third place at the MWC Championships
• finished in fourth place for the fourth time this season at the ASU Invite
• was named April 2003 and September 2002 Mountain West Conference Womens Golfer of the Month - Downs being the lone two-time honoree this season (to date)
• leads the MWC in stroke average (73.6)-thru Apr. 15
• shot a career low tournament score of 216 at the UNLV Showdown (76-70-70) and the ASU Invite (71-76-69)
• tied her career low round of 69 in the final round of the ASU Invite
• placed in Top-5 individually in six tournaments; top-15 in two
• is listed No. 20 in GolfWeek individual rankings (Apr. 28)
• along with teammate Spence was named Dollar Rent-a-Car Academic Athlete of the Year for Womens Golf

Shannon Johnson:

• named to the 2002-03 MWC All-Conference team; the first honor for Johnson in her two-years at UNM
• played in seven out of nine events for the Lobos this season
• stroke average is 77.3
• 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. 9 in MWC stroke average at 77.3 - thru Apr. 15
• is ranked No. 183 in GolfWeek individual poll (Apr. 28)

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.
• participated in four tournaments with a stroke average of 74.0 (nine rounds...666 strokes)

Katrina Leckovic:

• captured her first individual title as a Lobo at the 2003 MWC Championships
• scored a new MWC and personal best low round of 67 in the second round of the championships; tournament score of 216 also a personal best
• named to the MWC All-Conference team for the second straight year
• season stroke average is 75.0 in 25 rounds
• one of three Lobos to have played in every tournament this season
• lists second in conference stroke average at 75.4 - thru Apr. 15
• is ranked No. 65, climbing 14 spots from the previous listings, in GolfWeek rankings (Apr. 28)

Kellyn Newman:

• participated in five tournaments this season for the Lobos including the 2003 MWC Championships
• finished 23rd at the conference championships, her best finish this season
• stroke average stands at 80
• scored a career low round of 72 in the first round of the NMSU Intercollegiate

Christina Spence:

• scored a collegiate career low round of 69 in the second round of the 2003 MWC Championships
• finished tied for 4th place, her best collegiate finish to date
• named All-Conference for her efforts this season
• scored a collegiate tournament low score of 223 at the conference championships
• season stroke average is 75.6
• ranks No. 4 in MWC season stroke avg. 75.8 -thru Apr. 15
• one of three Lobos to compete in every tournament this season
• is nationally ranked at No. 94 (Apr. 28)
• 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 Invitational
• season stroke average is 84.1
• qualified for the Lady Gamecock Classic where she placed 81st

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Lobos Women's Golf

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