April 27, 2010

EDINBURG, Texas - Houston Baptist fired a third-round 323 as the Huskies defeated Texas-Pan American by 21 strokes to capture the 2010 Great West Conference Women's Golf Championship on Tuesday at the Los Lagos Golf Club in Edinburg, Texas.

HBU, last year's GWC runner-up, led after day one and did not look back with Gaia Olcese pacing the Huskies with a 79 in round three.  Olcese took individual and player of the year honors with a three-round total of 237. HBU had three other individuals who finished in the top six with Paige Gibson (83-81-80) and Natasha Lee (82-80-82) tied for third place with a 244 total and Balbina Guajardo (83-84-82) placing sixth with a 249.

“It was a great win for us to come down in the backyard of UTPA and take care of our business that we felt like we could do all year long," said HBU coach David Shuster. " The golf course played tough. It is firm and fast, and the layout can create havoc for your approach shots to the green. The girls played with it and we were fortunate enough to pull off the win." 

2009 GWC champion UTPA had three players earn all-conference accolades led by tournament runner-up and 2009 GWC medalist Haley Hocott's three-round total of 240. The Broncs' Melinda Ureigas fired the low round of the day with a 78 to finish fifth and earn first team honors with a 248. Sarah Kothny's 251 placed her seventh and on the second team while Majo Camey finished 12th with a 256 as the Broncs posted a three-round total of 995.

“It is good to get that conference championship," continued Shuster. "The girls came really close last year, and as I told (UTPA) Coach Lopez, we just really switched places. Last year they came to our place and pulled it out from underneath us, and this year we just reversed it."

Utah Valley finished in third place with a total score of 1,017 and had two players earn second team honors in Erika Baldwin's 252 and Brittany Butler's total of 254. North Dakota was led by second team honorees Kristi Lucken and Lauren Job as the Sioux finished in the fourth slot with a 1,035. South Dakota's 1,139 and Chicago State's 1,178 rounded out the championship field.

Great West Conference Coach of the Year: David Shuster, HBU

GWC Player of the Year: Gaia Olcese, HBU

GWC Newcomer of the Year: Balbina Guarjardo, HBU

GWC First Team All-Conference: Gaia Olcese, HBU; Haley Hocott, UTPA; Paige Gibson, HBU; Natasha Lee, HBU; Melinda Uriegas, UTPA

GWC Second Team All-Conference: Balbina Guajardo, HBU; Sarah Kothny, UTPA; Erika Baldwin, UVU; Kristi Lucken, UND; Lauryn Job, UND; Brittany Bulter, UVU

 Final Results