COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Aztec golfers Sara Kjellker and Bernice Olivarez Ilas were named All-Mountain West selections, the conference announced Thursday. Kjellker (Hollviken, Sweden) was a first team selection while Olivarez Ilas (Ayala Alabang, Philippines) was named to the second team.
Both Aztec golfers will be competing as individuals in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the NCAA Regionals beginning on Monday.
Kjellker (Hollviken, Sweden) was SDSU's top golfer this year, leading the team in average 18-hole score (73.9), rounds below par (9) and count percentage (.960). She finished in the top 20 a team-high five times, and in the top 10 on three occasions. This is Kjellker's fifth time being an all-conference selection, a school record, and her fourth time being a first team pick.
Olivarez Ilas (Ayala Alabang, Philippines) is coming off a sixth-place finish at the Mountain West Championships, her third top 10 finish on the year. She is second on the team with a 74.2 18-hole average, rounds below par (6) and count percentage (.920). She finished the season in the top two among SDSU golfers in four of their last five tournaments. This is her first All-Mountain West selection.
Kjellker and Olivarez Ilas begin play in the Albuquerque Regional on Monday (May 9), which will be played at the UNM Championship Course (par 72, 6,414/6,358 yards). The Aztecs opened their fall season on this course and Kjellker finished tied for sixth and shot a 214 (-2) and tied her career-best score of 66 in her second round. Olivarez Ilas was just one stroke behind Kjellker, shooting a 215 (70-70-75).
The top four teams and the top two individuals (not on an advancing team) will advance from each regional to move on to the NCAA Championships May 20-25 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
2022 Mountain West Women's Golf Postseason Awards
Player of the Year: Natasha Andrea Oon, San José State
Freshman of the Year: Lucia Lopez-Ortega, San José State
Coach of the Year: Dana Dormann, San José State
First Team
Sara Kjellker, San Diego State
Kajsa Arwefjall, San José State
Lucia Lopez-Ortega, San José State
Antonia Malate, San José State
Natasha Andrea Oon, San José State
Second Team
Victoria Gailey, Nevada
Bernice Olivarez Ilas, San Diego State
Nicole Lorup, UNLV
Veronica Joels, UNLV
Kendall Todd, UNLV