Albuquerque Journal

Lobo Women Golfers Go East
By Glen Rosales For the Journal

Although the University of New Mexico women's golf team romped through the Mountain West Conference tournament on its home course, the Lobos will not have an easy time in looking to return home for next month's NCAA Championship here.
   
The Lobos were sent east to the University of Georgia Golf Course as the eighth seed in the Eastern Regional that will be played May 8-10.
   
"We were a little surprised," said UNM coach Jill Trujillo. "But we're not disappointed."
   
No. 20 New Mexico earned its spot in the regional with its MWC victory, with conference members BYU and UNLV both getting at-large berths in the Western Regional in Lincoln, Calif. The top- eight finishers in each of the three-day regionals will come to Albuquerque for the championship tournament May 20-23 at the UNM Championship Course.
   
The top seed in the East is third-ranked Duke, which is the three-time defending national champion. The Blue Devils also won the Margaret Moses Branch NCAA Preview tournament here in October. Despite their presence, Trujillo is optimistic about the Lobos' chances of getting a chance to defend their home turf.
   
"I think the teams go a little deeper in the west and the midwest," she said. "And I heard that the west course (Lincoln Hills Golf Course) is pretty easy and that would open the door for teams nine through 13."
   
The Midwest Regional is at the University of Texas Golf Course, where the Lobos won a weather-shortened tournament in March.
   
But Trujillo is just as happy going to an unfamiliar course, even though the Lobos are the only program from west of the Missouri River.
   
"It makes traveling a little more difficult, but we're excited to be going," she said.