RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – The Cowgirls are in good form entering the Credit Union 1 Mountain West Women's Golf Championship this Tuesday through Thursday at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club.
 
Wyoming has some outstanding leaders with extensive experience on big stages with seniors Kyla Wilde and Meghan Vogt. Junior Grace Dunkleberger is coming of the best tournament score of her career. And two MW freshmen of the week honorees, Lucia Morelli and Kira Reisner, enter their first conference championship tournament with confidence.
 
"This group has done a very good job of committing to our process and preparation all year, and the Mountain West Championships will be no different," UW head coach Josey Stender said. "The veterans know how to take confidence from the competitive reps we have had in similar conditions while also the importance of sharing their experience of this golf course on this stage with the freshmen."
 
Junior Sophie Spiva of Casper, who finished 42^nd at the MW championship last year, will be the Cowgirls' sub.
 
Wilde finished 26^th (+8) at last year's conference championship. Vogt was out of the lineup due to injury. Dunkleberger competed in one round at the 2023 MW championship.
 
Morelli tied the program record for lowest tournament score after shooting 211 (-5) at the Bobcat Desert Classic last week. Reisner finished with the best tournament score (221) of her young career.
 
"We have had a lot of tremendous individual performances this season," Stender said. "They all know the impact those performances (have on the) collective."
 
This will be the 12^th consecutive MW Championship contested on the par-72, 6,286- yard course at Mission Hills Country Club.
 
All nine MW programs will participate in the 54-hole championship, which will see the teams play 18 holes each day, with tee times beginning at 8 a.m. MT.
 
Entering the championship, five MW teams are ranked in the top 100 nationally. UNLV leads the way at No. 38, followed closely by San José State at No. 45.
 
Colorado State (No. 89), Boise State (No. 92) and New Mexico (No. 98) are also in the top 100, while Nevada (No. 107) and San Diego State (No. 108) are just outside. Fresno State (No. 142) and UW (No. 188) round out the field.
 
The Cowgirls will be paired with CSU and Nevada in Tuesday's opening round.
 
Individually, two MW golfers rank inside the top 100 nationally – UNLV's Toa Yokoyama (No. 82), and Mayumi Umezu (No. 85). San José State is the reigning team champion after shooting a tournament-record 17-under-par 847 in 2024.