Reno, Nev. - The University of Nevada women's golf team will travel to Fresno, Calif. kick off the spring season at the 2010 Fresno State Lexus Classic. Fresno State will play host to the 14-team tournament, it will be held at Copper River C.C. Monday-Tuesday, March 1-2.
The field for the Fresno State Lexus Classic consists of; Boise State, Cal Poly, E. Washington, Fresno State, Fullerton, Nevada, Sac State, San Jose State, Santa Clara, Seattle Univ., UC Davis, UC Irvine, Portland State and Gonzaga.
This marks the first spring tournament for the Wolf Pack. The Fresno State Lexus Classic will begin with 36 holes to play on Monday, followed by 18 holes on Tuesday. Both days have a shotgun start time of 8 a.m. Pacific Time.
Traveling for the Wolf Pack is sophomore Jamie Yam (San Diego, Calif.), freshman Eugenia Guerra (Monterrey, Mexico), junior Lauren Hernandez (Las Vegas, Nev.), freshman Louise Yi and senior Pamela Abreu (Guatemala City, Guatemala).
Fall Season Recap:
Adam Pohll, Director of Golf is in his third season with the Wolf Pack, assistant coaches Chad Spencer and Jacob Wilner are in their second year with the Pack.
The team is made up of six returners; one senior, three juniors, two sophomores and two new freshmen. Senior Pamela Abreu (Guatemala City, Guatemala) returned for her final season at Nevada followed by juniors Ana Patricia de la Maza (San Luis Potosi, Mexico), Cathleen Ward (Boulder City, Nev.) and Lauren Hernandez (Las Vegas, Nev.). Sophomores Alex Borcherts (Las Vegas, Nev.), Jamie Yam (San Diego, Calif.) started their second year and newcomers Eugenia Guerra (Monterrey, Mexico.) and Louise Yi (Cinnaminson, N.J.) joined the team as freshman.
Under the direction of Pohll, the Wolf Pack and stands at a 31-24 win loss record for the fall season with two top five finishes, three top 10 finishes one top 15 finish.
"We had a better start than we expected this year." Pohll said. "We've got a young team; I was pleased to see that we started the season with two new freshmen in our starting lineup."
The Wolf Pack started off the 2009-10 season strong at the Washington State Inland Cup. The Pack finished at 52-over 916 (307-306-303) to take second place for the second consecutive year and all five Nevada golfers finished in the top 20.
Next at the Giustina Memorial Classic the Pack's men and women joined forces to compete in Corvallis, Oregon. The men came in fourth with a tournament total of four-over 868 and the women came in fifth at 71-over 935 (308-317-310).
In Erie Colorado at the Heather Farr Memorial Classic the Pack finished ninth with a three-round total of 63-over 927 (307-315-305).
The last fall tournament for the Wolf Pack women was the Price's Give Em' Five Intercollegiate in Las Cruces, N.M. Led by the two freshman the Pack carded 48-over 912 (311-299-302) and finished 13th.
Senior Pamela Abreu and junior Cathleen Ward didn't compete at any events this fall but continue to work on their games for the spring season.
"Both girls continue to work very hard on their game," Pohll said. "Pam is looking to get back in the lineup for her last semester at Nevada and Cathleen is working to qualify for her first event."
Junior Ana Patricia de la Maza saw action in all four tournaments this fall, her best event was the Washington State Inland Cup where she tied for sixth marking her first individual top 10 finish. De la Maza carded a career low round of 72 to lead the team to a second place finish at WSU.
"Ana Patricia's performance at WSU was good, she has improved her stroke average by three strokes since last year," Pohll, stated, "She is still working hard on her game but has a long way to go."
Junior Lauren Hernandez played in all four tournaments this fall. Her best round was at the Washington State Inland Cup where she shot a season low of two-over par 74 to tie for 15th at 15-over 231 (79-78-74). Hernandez finished the fall season with two top 20 finishes. Pohll views Hernandez as one the most talented athletes he has seen come through Nevada.
"Lauren is capable of being one of the best players in the conference. She is physically the most talented player on the team, Pohll stated. "In the off season she will work on her short-game, it hasn't equated out in her game yet but it will in the spring."
In her second year, sophomore Alex Borcherts practiced with the team through the fall but didn't see any action.
"Alex will be making some swing changes in the fall and winter months as she competes for a travel spot," Pohll said.
Sophomore Jamie Yam played in all four tournaments and led the team with three top 20 finishes for the fall season. Yam finished in a tie for eighth at 13-over 229 (73-82-74) at the Giustina Memorial Classic and led the team at the Heather Farr Memorial Classic where she tied for 15th at 10-over 226. Yam sits second on the team after the fall season with a stroke average of 76.15.
"Jamie is off to a great start this year. She had three top 15 finishes in three events which is exceptional for a sophomore. Luckily she is only a sophomore; she gets better with experience and will be better in the spring semester. Jamie is getting physically stronger and it shows in her stroke average," Pohll said.
The two newcomers, Eugenia Guerra and Louise Yi earned their spot on the team as they both made the travel squad for all four events.
Guerra is from Monterey, Mexico, she came to the Wolf Pack after a red-shirt season at the University of Tulsa. In her Nevada debut she had three top 25 finishes for the fall season.
"We hope that she will be an All-WAC selection this year with her performances," Pohll said.
Guerra's best round was at the Washington State Inland Cup where she shot a 74 to finish 20th. Following the WSU Inland Cup Eugenia tied for 14 at the Giustina Memorial Classic and carded a 17-over 233.
"We are pleased with Eugenia's first four events this year. She made every travel trip and contributes every week, as she continues to work on her putting we will see even better results in the spring," Pohll said.
Fellow freshman Louise Yi joined the Pack from Cinnaminson, N.J as a 2009 graduate of Cinnaminson High School. Yi debuted with the Wolf Pack with two top 20 finishes for the fall season. Yi's hard work paid off as shot a career low of three-under 69 to match the seventh best individual round in school history at the Price's Give Em' Five Intercollegiate where she tied for 14th (77-69-77=223). Yi also leads the team in stroke average at 75.58 strokes per round.
"The 69 Louise shot at the Price's Give Em' Five Intercollegiate was just awesome, she is the hardest worker on the team. We are very impressed with her first semester of college golf. She made every travel trip because she works hard every day."
As for the upcoming spring season, the bar is set high for Yi.
"We are making a few changes to her game, in hopes that she will be WAC Freshman on the year," Pohll said.
Coming off a successful fall season Pohll looks hopeful towards the spring season. He believes the young team has what it takes to accomplish their goals set forth.
