The Nevada women’s golf team concluded a strong opening to the 2012-13 season with a tie for fifth place at Colonel Wollenberg’s Ptarmigan Ram Classic hosted by Colorado State.
Nevada closed with a 302 on Tuesday and tied for fifth place along with Louisville, Long Beach State and New Mexico. Sophomore Nikki Prichard led the way with a tie for fifth individually with a 2-over par 218 for the 54-hole tournament.
“I’m proud of how consistent we were this week,” head coach Chad Spencer said. “I know the talent level is there but we’re young and I’m happy to see how well we played. It’s a big confidence boost for us to come into a strong field like this and hold our own.”
Nevada finished five strokes behind UNLV, tied with New Mexico and ahead of fellow Mountain West foes Fresno State, Colorado State and Wyoming at the 17-team tournament.
“This is a strong conference we’re in and to know we can hang with them is big,” Spencer said. “And I know we can get better and I know we have to get better.”
Prichard shot 72-72 on Monday and closed with a 74 on Tuesday.
“She’s so solid and she’s only going to get better,” Spencer said.
Freshman Caryn Khoo and sophomore transfer Bethany Wurster tied for 24th at 10 over for the tournament. Freshman Carly Simpson tied for 45th and senior Louise Yi, who struggled on Monday, came back with a 75 on Tuesday to tie for 69th.
Nevada returns to action next week at the Oregon State Invitational.
