UNM women's golf to open season at home with Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational

The Lobos are ready to enjoy the comforts of home.

New Mexico women’s golf team opens its season this week, hosting the 47th annual Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational at UNM Championship Course.

The 54-hole tournament named after the former UNM men’s golf coach will be contested Monday (36 holes) and Tuesday (18 holes). The field consists of 15 schools, including Mountain West foes Fresno State and UNLV.

Freshman Ava Cepeda, sophomore Chelsea Truong, senior Maria Caparrós Levin, redshirt sophomore Ciara Rushmer and junior Rebecca Galasso are set to compete for UNM, with freshman Juliette Holé playing as an individual.

After the Lobos battled injuries for much of last season, UNM head coach Jill Trujillo said she feels “really good” about her team heading into Monday and is excited to see a roster with five returnees compete in the program’s first tournament of the year.

“Our ranking (109th nationally) wasn’t where we wanted it to be (last season),” Trujillo said Friday. “I know this team wants to be in the top 50, but not just be in the top 50. I think their goals are to win our conference championship, make it to regionals and back to the national championship.”

In order to do so, they’ll have to effectively replace three “boisterous” seniors (Lisa-Marie Pagliano, Annie Saechung and Sophia Zamarripa) and Maria Garcia, the unanimous Mountain West Freshman of the Year.

After earning All-Mountain West honors for UNM last season, the Querétaro, Mexico native transferred to Georgia in the offseason.

“There’s a team dynamic that we have and like to keep,” Trujillo said. “And the harsh reality of it is, if somebody doesn’t want to stay here, you can’t keep them here. And we hope that doesn’t keep happening.”

Caparrós Levin is UNM’s lone senior and joins Galasso as one of just two upperclassmen on the roster. The Madrid native said it’s “bittersweet” to be playing in her final home event, but said she’s looking forward to leading throughout the season while aiming for more consistent scores.

“We’re all really excited for this event,” she added. “I think it’s a great way to start the season with a lot of energy and like, all that excitement. When I first came here as a freshman, I was really excited to play and I know they’re feeling the same way.

“To get to do it at home, where people can come watch, all that is amazing.”