Koelbaek grabs regional title

UNLV women's golfer Therese Koelbaek shot a final-round 1-over-par 73, hanging on to tie for medalist honors Saturday at the NCAA West Regional in Lincoln, Calif.

Koelbaek's effort helped UNLV finish third in the 21-team field as the Rebels clinched a berth in the NCAA Championships from May 20 to 23 in Albuquerque, N.M.

"We are so excited to be heading to Albuquerque," UNLV coach Missy Ringler said. "That was obviously the goal we set at the beginning of the year, and to see it become a reality is so great. I am so proud of these girls. They have worked so hard."

Koelbaek, a freshman, entered the third round with a three-shot lead, but Arizona's Alison Walshe shot 3-under 69, coming from four shots down to tie for the individual title as both posted 6-under 210 totals.

"Therese's play has been outstanding," Ringler said. "Every tournament she has played, she has gained more confidence each time out. It is great to see her playing so well, especially for a freshman."

The Rebels shot 13-over 301 in the final round to fall from second to third with a 15-over 879 total. It was UNLV's worst round of the three-day event, following an even-par 288 to open the tournament and a 2-over 290 in the second round.

Top-ranked Southern California shot 4-under 284 to win the team title at 9-under 855, with Arizona State second at 6-over 870.

Tonya Choate, tied for eighth after two rounds, shot 6-over 78 to finish tied for 28th with a 6-over 222 total for UNLV. Natasha Krishna (74) tied for 35th at 223, and Alejandra Guacaneme (76) tied for 69th at 229 to round out UNLV's team score.

The top eight teams in each of three regionals earned NCAA berths. Joining USC, Arizona State and UNLV from the West were Arizona, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Tulsa and UC Davis.

The Rebels, in just their seventh year of competition, will make their third appearance in the NCAA Championships. UNLV finished 21st in 2004 and 22nd in 2006.

• BASEBALL -- UNLV gave up three runs in the seventh inning and another in the eighth, losing to New Mexico 7-4 in a Mountain West Conference game at Wilson Stadium.

The Rebels led 4-3 entering the seventh, but the Lobos (31-20, 15-5) got a two-run triple from Brian Cavazos-Gomez, followed by a Kevin Atkinson RBI double to take a 6-4 lead.

UNLV (20-31, 8-12 MWC) had rallied from a 3-0 deficit, taking the lead with two runs in the sixth. Steve Rinaudo scored on a throwing error after stealing third, and Jarred Frierson scored on Bryan Resnick's sacrifice bunt.

• SOFTBALL -- UNLV ended its season with a 6-0 loss to 19th-ranked San Diego State in a Mountain West Conference game at Eller Media Stadium.

The Aztecs (43-15, 15-5 MWC) won the league title.

The Rebels, who were ranked early in the season after a 9-1-1 start, finished 25-40-1 (5-15 MWC).

The game was scoreless through four innings, but San Diego State scored once in the fifth, then piled up five runs in the seventh.

UNLV got two hits off Aztecs starter Christina Ross.