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Wolverines finish third, Dehlin fifth at WAC Championship

BLAINE, Wash. – By carding a final round 308 in wet conditions on Sunday, the Utah Valley University women's golf team finished its 2016 WAC Championship run in third place with a three-round total of 48-over-par 912 at the Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club in Blaine, Washington.
 
A total of three Wolverines posted top-10 finishes en route to earning the third-place team finish. Redshirt freshman Carly Dehlin paced the group by taking fifth overall with a three-round score of 6-over-par (222) after carding scores of 72, 75 and 75, while senior Kalea Heu and redshirt freshman Ana Raga each tied for 10th place at 11-over-par (227). Heu and Raga both tied for 10th after recording respective scores of 78, 75, 74 and 71, 78, 78 at the Championship.
 
Dehlin's 6-over 222 is not only the best three-round total of her collegiate career, but also ties her with former Wolverine great Lynn-Marie Nagel for the best three-round score in Utah Valley women's golf history.
 
As a team, Utah Valley's 48-over 912 also sets the school record for the lowest three-round total in program history.
 
Dehlin, who entered Sunday's final round tied for third on the individual leaderboard, carded five birdies during the final round — including three in her first four holes — to find herself right in the mix for the individual championship. The redshirt freshman from Draper, Utah, ended up finishing just five strokes shy of earning individual medalist honors and an automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals as New Mexico State's Kennedie Montoya pared her final three holes to seal the individual title. Dehlin, who earned Second Team All-WAC honors following the tournament, led Utah Valley by recording a total of 11 birdies at the championship event.
 
NMSU's Montoya helped lead New Mexico State to its third straight WAC Championship, as the Aggies won the tournament with a three-round total of 20-over-par 884. Montoya took home individual medalist honors after carding a 1-over 217 (74, 71, 72). Seattle U placed second at the tournament at 36-over (900), while UVU took third, UMKC fourth (920), UT Rio Grande Valley fifth (942), Chicago State sixth (961) and CSU Bakersfield seventh (974).
 
Behind Dehlin, Heu and Raga's top-10 finishes, junior Kimberly Nyhus was next for UVU by tying for 22nd place at 20-over par (76, 79, 81). Senior Cassandra Lesa capped Utah Valley's field of five by tying for 29th at her final collegiate event with a 28-over 244 (81, 79, 84).
 
 
The fifth-place finish by Dehlin and the third-place finish by the Wolverines mark both the highest individual and team finishes for UVU in program history in WAC Championship play.
 
The 2016 WAC Championship marks the conclusion of the 2015-16 season for the Wolverines.
 
First Team All-WAC
Cynthia Diaz, Missouri-Kansas City
Camille Orito, NM State
Viviana Macias, NM State
Alexus Song, Seattle U
Dorsey Addicks, Seattle U
 
Second Team All-WAC
Rachel Johnson, Chicago State
Deanna Salvatori, Grand Canyon
Kennedie Montoya, NM State
Valeria Macias, NM State
Kacey Dalpes, NM State
Carly Dehlin, Utah Valley
 
WAC Women's Coach of the Year: Jackie Booth, NM State
WAC Women's Freshman of the Year: Cynthia Diaz, UMKC
WAC Women's Player of the Year: Viviana Macias, NM State

View complete results HERE.