Ringler still optimistic about Rebels

The slow but steady progress the UNLV women’s golf team has made in the national rankings during coach Missy Ringler’s first four years has come to a screeching halt this season.

The Rebels finished second in their first tournament of fall but have largely struggled and haven’t given much indication that they can make an impact in the NCAA Championships.

But Ringler isn’t about to call this a rebuilding year, despite a lineup with two freshmen and two sophomores. And one of those sophomores, No. 1 player Da Sol Chung, has been bothered by pain in her right shoulder that has hampered her play.

With one regular-season tournament remaining, starting Monday in Indianapolis, Ringler is convinced the team has the right stuff.

"I’m trying to stay positive, but I’ll admit we haven’t played as well as we can," she said.

Part of that has been because of Chung’s aching shoulder, which has been diagnosed as a strained rotator cuff. Chung, a first-team All-American as a freshman, has taken to using a pull cart to remove stress from her shoulder caused by carrying her bag.

Ringler said the shoulder should improve with rest and won’t require surgery. She hopes Chung will be ready for the Mountain West Conference Tournament, which begins April 19 at Entrada Golf Club in St. George, Utah.

The Rebels won the conference on that course last year and have won the last four tournaments they’ve entered at Entrada.

The NCAA West Regional also will be played at Entrada.

"The kids know the course, and they’re comfortable on the course, and we have a history of success there," Ringler said.

Ringler is hoping for a return trip to the NCAA Championships but said her long-term goal is for the program to become a perennial top-10 team and contender for the national title.

Ringler acknowledged she needs to improve the base but said this team’s nucleus, despite its rocky season, can take the program a long way.

"We still need to add players, but I believe in this core group, and I think this group still can be very significant," she said. "We’re looking for players who will bring something special to the program, but we’ve already got a lot of those kinds of players."

• SCHUTTE HOT — Former UNLV men’s star Warren Schutte is third on the Gateway Tour’s Desert spring series after two events.

Schutte, 35, has finished tied for 10th and third in the first two tournaments.

His strong play is a continuation of his performance on the winter series. Schutte won the penultimate event on the winter series at Vistal Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., shooting a first-round 62 en route to a three-shot victory.

Kevin Iole’s golf notes are published Thursday. He can be reached at 396-4428 or kiole@reviewjournal.com.