Cougars riding high in second place after two rounds
IRVINE -- The BYU women's golf team had a firm grasp on second place Monday after two rounds at the Anteater Invitational.
Behind the steady play of junior Margaret Gibby (75-74--149), the Cougars (307-300--607) thrust themselves to the forefront of a competitive field that included four top-50 clubs. Gibby's performance positioned her sixth in the individual standings.
BYU head coach Sue Nyhus said she was happy with her team's play.
"We're proud of them," she said. "The team's been getting more and more confident."
Besides Gibby, the Cougars had two others in the top 20. Freshmen Rachel Newren (78-75--153) and Alexis Edwards (75-78--153) tied for 18th. Rounding out the Cougars' five were solid performances from senior Nicole Newren-Chandler (79-75--154) and her sister Natalie (80-76--156).
Nyhus said she was pleased with her team's preparation for the tournament.
"All of their preparation and hard work with Josh Baker in the training room is showing up," she said. "There are girls complaining about having to play 36 holes and our girls are jogging down the fairway."
The Anteater, hosted by UC Irvine, is held at the Coto de Gaza Golf and Racquet Club on a par-72 course that measures 6,072 yards. The tournament is fielding a competitive group of the following 13 teams: San Francisco (41), San Jose State (43), Michigan (45), Virginia (47), Denver, Iowa State, UC Irvine, Colorado, Colorado State, Cal State Northridge, Kansas and Boise State.
BYU enters the final round Tuesday 21 strokes behind first-place San Francisco (291-295--586), but five strokes ahead of third-place Michigan (302-310--612). If the Cougars hold on to second place, it will be their highest finish of the season.
Anteater Invitational Irvine, Calif.March 15-16 Coto de Caza Golf Club
Par: 72 Yardage: 6,072
Fin. Name Score
2 Brigham Young 307-300--607 (+31)
T 7 Margaret Gibby 75-74--149 (+5)
T 18 Rachel Newren 78-75--153 (+9)
T 18 Alexis Edwards 75-78--153 (+9)
T 23 Nicole Newren-Chandler 79-75--154 (+10)
T 30 Natalie Newren 80-76--156 (+12)
Fin. Team Score
1 San Francisco 291-295--586 (+10)
2 Brigham Young 307-300--607 (+31)
3 Michigan 302-310--612 (+36)
4 San Jose State 306-310--616 (+40)
5 UC Irvine 307-310--617 (+41)
T 6 Kansas 322-301--623 (+47)
T 6 Iowa State 309-314--623 (+47)
8 Colorado 303-321--624 (+48)
T 9 Virginia 316-309--625 (+49)
T 9 Colorado State 311-314--625 (+49)
11 Denver 312-314--626 (+50)
12 Boise State 310-322--632 (+56)
13 CS Northridge 322-325--647 (+71)
Fin. Top 20 Players School Scores
1 Nikki Jacoby San Francisco 71-74--145 (+1)
2 Kristi Larsen San Francisco 72-74--146 (+2)
T 3 Elizabeth Allen CS Northridge 75-72--147 (+3)
T 3 Joan M. Shimozaki San Francisco 74-73--147 (+3)
T 5 Minnie Choi UC Irvine 74-74--148 (+4)
T 5 Jordan Auten San Francisco 74-74--148 (+4)
T 7 Margaret Gibby Brigham Young 75-74--149 (+5)
T 7 Angela Won UC Irvine 73-76--149 (+5)
T 9 Maria Perrson-Gulda Colorado 76-74--150 (+6)
T 9 Alyssa Otero Denver 76-74--150 (+6)
T 11 Ashley Gomes San Jose State 74-77--151 (+7)
T 11 Tai Kinney San Jose State 77-74--151 (+7)
T 13 Amanda Costner Kansas 77-75--152 (+8)
T 13 Louise Kenney Iowa State 75-77--152 (+8)
T 13 Brianna Broderick Michigan 75-77--152 (+8)
T 13 Hannah Hoch Colorado 74-78--152 (+8)
T 13 Stephanie Linnell Colorado State 78-74--152 (+8)
T 18 Saki Uechi* UC Los Angeles 78-75--153 (+9)
T 18 Leanne Owens Iowa State 76-77--153 (+9)
T 18 Rachel Newren Brigham Young 78-75--153 (+9)
T 18 Sally Shonk Virginia 78-75--153 (+9)
T 18 Alexis Edwards Brigham Young 75-78--153 (+9)
*Played as an individual
