Results
MISSION HILLS, Kan. – The New Mexico State women's golf team finished the third and final round at the Western Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championship on Friday. The Aggies led the field with a total of 907 (+67) to win their fourth-straight WAC Championship by five strokes.
Pun Chanachai played great through the 54-hole event after carding a 76-70-73—219 (+9) to capture medalist honors. The first place finish in the individual field is the third time in a row an Aggie has done so at the conference championship. The freshman led the field on holes for par with 36 and posted a tournament best 4.80 stroke average on the par-5.
Kristen Cline finished in the top-10 as well with scores of 77-75-75—227 (+17) to finish the tournament in eighth place.
Dominique Galloway posted a 74-81-79 (+24) which put the Aggie in a tie for 21st.
Vale Macias carded an 82-72-81--235 (+25) to finish in a tie for 23rd and
Camille Orito rounded out the NM State roster with scores of 84-80-74—238 (+28) for 26th place.
Cline and Macias led the team firing five birdies apiece and the team as a whole shot 18, good for third in the field of seven. The Aggies also tied for the tournament-lead with 150 pars. NM State played their best golf on the par-5 with a field-best stroke average of 4.97.
After three days at the WAC Championship, NM State's score of 907 (+67) gave them the title, followed by UMKC in second at 912 (+72) and Seattle U completing the top-three with a total of 914 (+74).
The team's three seniors –
Kristen Cline,
Vale Macias and
Camille Orito – complete their conference careers at NM State winning all four WAC championships they were a part of, the first time an Aggie has done so in program history.
After the tournament, the WAC announced post-season honors which awarded Coach of the Year to NM State's
Jackie Booth and Chanachai took home both Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year following a stellar rookie campaign. Chanachai, Cline and Orito were also named to the 2016-17 WAC First-Team, while Macias and
Kennedie Montoya earned a second-team nod.
New Mexico State women's golf now moves on to compete in the NCAA Regionals, May 8-10.
2016-17 WAC Awards
Coach of the Year: Jackie Booth
Player of the Year: Pun Chanachai
Freshman of the Year: Pun Chanachai
2016-17 WAC First-Team
Pun Chanachai, NM State
Kristen Cline, NM State
Cynthia Diaz, UMKC
Camille Orito, NM State
Ana Margarita Raga, Utah Valley
2016-17 WAC Second-Team
Mackenzie Black, UMKC
Ellen Brantberg, Seattle U
Vale Macias, NM State
Kennedie Montoya, NM State
Deanna Salvatori, Grand Canyon
