April 19, 2008
Albuquerque Journal
Lobo Golf: Ewart Rallies for Individual Championship
By Glen Rosales For the JournalWith four holes to go Saturday in the final round of the Mountain West Conference women's golf championship, it looked like it would be a bittersweet afternoon for the University of New Mexico.
Although the Lobos were going to be the runaway champion, winning for the first time since 2003, it seemed like they would not take home the individual title at the 6,167-yard UNM Championship Course. The top three Lobos were all tied for second, two strokes behind BYU's Natalia Jimenez.
But it was all a ruse by New Mexico sophomore Jodi Ewart, who was just biding her time, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"I was waiting and being patient," said Ewart, who was the first-round leader. "I knew where I was and I was just waiting for something to drop."
And it finally did on the 387-yard, par-4 15th.
From that moment, Ewart felt the tournament was hers.
"As soon as that putt dropped, I knew I was going get it rolling," she said. "It was just an awesome feeling."
She pulled even on the 17th hole with another birdie, then actually gained the lead on that hole as Jimenez, following behind her, 3-putted for a bogey.
Not knowing her position coming down the 18th fairway, however, Ewart felt like she needed a big hole. Her second shot on the 460-yard, par-5 rolled onto the bottom edge of the green, 65 feet from the pin.
"I felt somewhat nervous," she said, "which is why I left it a mile short."
More like 15 feet, but not a problem.
"I knew I had to have that putt to give myself a chance," said Ewart, who rocked back her head and raised her arms after it went it for birdie. "I knew it was going to go in as soon as I stood over top of it. I was confident on the line me and (assistant coach Shelly Schlagel) had chosen. It just rolled right in."
That gave Ewart a 1-under 72 and an even 219— two strokes ahead of Jimenez and teammate Morgan Grantham.
Second-round leader Britney Choy of New Mexico, ran into a stretch on the back nine when she bogeyed four of five holes, dropping her from contention. She finished in a fourth-place tie with a 4-over 223.
As a team, the No. 23 Lobos shot a 12-over 888 for a comfortable 19-stroke victory over BYU. It qualifies New Mexico for the NCAA regionals May 8-10 at a site that will be determined later this month. The top teams there advance to the NCAA Championships, May 20-23 at UNM.
For Ewart, a sophomore, it's her second consecutive conference championship.
"The last four holes in a major championship in the final round, it's all about mental strength," she said. "But it also feels good to win it as a team."
The tournament was particularly noteworthy for Grantham, as well.
Before the season, she had played sporadically. But she became a fixture in the lineup and turned in her best finish when it counted the most.
She entered the day tied for second, two strokes off the pace, which might have hindered her effort at the beginning.
"I was a little nervous getting out," Grantham said of making four bogeys in the first seven holes. "I didn't know what things were all about."
Then she birdied 9 and 10 and that "gave me a bit of confidence."
Grantham landed her approach shots within seven feet on both 14 and 15, but failed to make the putts. But she came back to make birdie on 16.
Still, she had no idea where she stood in relation to the other leaders.
"I didn't know what the field was doing," she said. "I was just happy not to shoot 4 over."