Cougars Finish Strong in Final Round

SALINAS -- The 41st-ranked BYU women's golf team came out strong in the final round of the Spartan Invitational, shooting its best round of the tournament (295) and finishing the tournament in a tie for sixth place.

After struggling in their approach shots to the green yesterday, the Cougars made some important adjustments and attacked the pins well during the final round, said assistant coach Dave DeSantis.

"They all adjusted really well," DeSantis said. "We finished really strong during the last three holes, which are some of the most difficult holes of the course."

The final round found the Cougars paired with the tournament's best golfers. According to DeSantis, playing the final round with the best golfers gave the Cougars a much-needed boost of confidence for the rest of the season.

"They proved to themselves they can compete with the best," DeSantis said. "It's a good prep for the regional, conference and national championships. It's a definite positive as a team because we'll have the memory of finishing strong in this tournament."

Rachel and Natalie Newren and Danielle von Arnim led the Cougars' attack during the final round, each scoring a 2-over-par 73. Rachel wrapped up the tournament at a 6-over-par 219 and in a tie for 12th place, making this the fifth time she has finished in the top 20 this season. Arnim's final round 73 marks her best round of the season. She finished in a 26th-place tie and shot a 12-over-par 225, a career-low tournament score. Natalie, who ran into difficulty in the first and second rounds (80-80), improved in the final round and finished the tournament at a 20-over-par 233.

"The team did really well today," Rachel said. "I think the team got comfortable, even though it was a more difficult day because it was hotter and the pins were in tighter places."

Alexis Edwards and Juli Wightman wrapped up the team score, finishing the final round with a 5-over-par 76. Edwards, who tied a season low with an opening-round 72, finished this year's event at 228 and in tie for 34th place, while Wightman shot a 230, earning a tie for 43rd place.

The Cougars return to action March 14-16 at the UNLV Spring Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev.

Corral De Tierra Country Club - Par 71 - 5,826 yards
TEAM RESULTS (Golfweek ranking)
1.  UCLA(2)            298-281-289--868
2.  Washington(4)      293-287-290--870
3.  UC Irvine(43)      295-293-290--878
T4. UNLV(29)           292-294-298--884
T4. California(33)     294-291-299--884
T6. New Mexico St.     301-305-293--899
T6. BYU(41)            299-305-295--899
8.  San Francisco(44)  307-299-300--906
9.  Colorado St.       308-302-299--909
10. Fresno St.         303-305-304--912
11. Hawaii             304-307-304--915
12. San Jose St.(47)   311-299-308--918
13. Colorado           319-299-305--923
14. Santa Clara        323-328-316--967
15. CS Monterey Bay    332-335-338--1005
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T12. Rachel Newren        73-73-73--219 (+6)
T26. Danielle von Arnim   77-75-73--225 (+12)
T34. Alexis Edwards       72-80-76--228 (+15)
T43. Juli Wightman        77-77-76--230 (+17)
T51. Natalie Newren       80-80-73--233 (+20)