Page 28 - Las Vegas Golf & Leisure Fall 2018

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NE W S • E V EN T S • BEH IND T HE SCENE S

Golden Girls Locals Rock
BEST FINISH SINCE 1980 FOR UNLV COMMIT WINS NEVADA STATE
SOUTHERN NEVADA GIRLS WOMEN’S GOLF ASSOCIATION AMATEUR

he Southern Nevada girls’ team wound up fourth in the 2018 ising UNLV women’s golf freshman Veronica Joels put together
Girls Junior Americas Cup held July 23 through 27, 2018 at rounds of 69-73–142 and breezed to an 11-stroke victory over
THiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, Colo., the best team finish RConnie Isler in the 2018 NSWGA Amateur Championship at
for Southern Nevada since 1980. Mexico was the team champ, winning DragonRidge Country Club. My Paulsen (gross) and Nancy Dunn (net)
by 11 strokes over runner-up Southern California. Northern Nevada also won division titles.
wound up 12th. Joels’ first round set the stage as she came in with a three-under-par 69.
Mexico had a three-day total of 642 (12-over) to win while Southern “My putter the first day really worked well,” says the 18-year-old Joels.
California was second at 653 (+23). Southern Nevada was at 670 while “The second day went pretty well, but I just didn’t score. But, that’s golf for
Northern Nevada had a score of 706. Southern Nevada stayed around you. You just go out and do the best you can every time.”
the lead all three days and was tied for first after round one. Her ball striking was spot-on both days. “It was super-solid,” she says. “I
The Southern Nevada team was comprised of Riana Mission (75-72- think I hit 14 of 18 greens each day so I was really happy with that.”
74—220), McKenzi Hall (68-77-77—222), Gabrielle DeNunzio (75-80- She played in this event in 2017, but had to settle for second. This year
81—236) and Kyndall Newman (83-76-77—236). Mission wound up she moved up a spot.
seventh in the individual race with the three-round total of 220, +10. “This is a great event and all of these ladies are very nice,” she says. “And
Hall was ninth with a 222 total, +12. Hall also had the lowest round of the course was in great shape. It was just a lot of fun.”
the tournament with a first-round 68. My Paulsen didn’t let a little lack of sleep get in the way of winning the
“We’re very proud of the girls,” says Nicole Dutt, co-coach of the Silver gross title. Paulsen, who works the swing shift at Bellagio, edged
Southern Nevada team with Kerri Clark. “We were tied for the lead after Debbie Love for the title. “I really didn’t have high expectations so I’m very
the first day and we think that’s the first time the Southern Nevada team happy,” Paulsen says. “I’d get off work, get a couple of hours of sleep, drive
has ever led after any round. across town and play in the event and then do it again.”
“It was definitely a tough course. Walking it is crazy hard and it played Nancy Dunn used her home-course advantage to the fullest in winning
long. But the girls really hung in there and played solid.” the silver net title.
Dutt-Roberts and Clark were a part of the 1980 team that finished “It really helped to be a member here,” she says. “Knowledge of the
second, the best finish prior to this year. Clark finished second in the greens really helped and I just played my game. It was a pretty solid two
individual race that year and is a Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame inductee. days.”
Corey Lopez, of team champion Mexico, won the individual title with Her goal was simple: “I just wanted to keep it in play and play to my
scores of 70-70-72—212. Serena Sepersky of SoCal was runner-up, just strengths,” she says. “I also had a lot of really good lag putts.”
one shot behind.

26 LVG&L FALL 2018 W W W.L ASVEGASGOLFANDLEISURE.COM