LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Aggies came together as a team on Wednesday to win the Price’s “Give ?Em Five” Intercollegiate at the New Mexico State University golf course.
The Aggies started the day in second place, just two strokes behind Missouri. The Aggies carded a 26-over-par 890 and finished six strokes ahead of Baylor, which finished in second. Missouri ended up in a tie for third with San Jose State.
“We brought our ?A’ game today, and I could tell by their demeanor, that we were close to winning it,” head coach Paul Brilliant said. “They’ve been working hard and were just trying to take little steps.”
Senior Lehua Wise (Lihue, Kauai, Hawai’i) led the way for the Aggies as she fired 11 birdies to score 2-under-par 214 and finish in first place. Lehua started two strokes behind Missouri’s Ellen Hoeper. Hoeper carded an even-par 216.
“I got off to a good start today, making a birdie on hole No.1, and for once I got out of my own way,” Wise said. The whole tournament was awesome, and I’m so glad that we got a team win.”
Senior Inah Park (Richmond, B.C.) fired a 2-under-par 70 to finish the tournament in fourth place with a total score of 2-over-par 218. Senior Kelli Dalpes came up with another good score in the final round to finish the tournament in a tie for 10th place with Gonzaga’s Sarah Sheffield. Dalpes ended up with a score of 7-over-par 223.
“I just wanted to stay relaxed today, because I knew it wasn’t going to be as easy as yesterday,” Dalpes said.
WAC member San Jose State finished the tournament in second place, six strokes behind the Aggies. NMSU beat out five teams from the WAC including Boise State, Idaho, Nevada, San Jose State and Hawai’i.
“We gained lots of respect from the other WAC teams and coaches,” Brilliant said. “Coaches can tell when players are working hard.”
The last time the Aggies won the Price’s “Give ?Em Five” Intercollegiate was in 2000. Sasha Medina and Alena Sharp won this tournament in 2001 and 2002 respectively. Both players are now playing at the professional level.
“I’m glad for the players today, and something like this makes it worth coming back,” Brilliant said.
Next up for the NMSU women’s golf team is the 2006 Kent Youel Invitational in Wise’s home state of Hawai’i. Play will be on Oct. 23-24.