CORVALLIS, Ore--BYU sputtered to a slow start during the first round of the NCAA West Regional shooting 322 at Trysting Tree Golf Course on Thursday.
Carrie Summerhays and Lisa Dernick shot a pair of 77s to lead the Cougars. Summerhays, who qualified for the U.S. Open on Monday, was one-under par after the first nine, but had a quadruple boggie on the second to last hole putting a damper on her consistent round. Dernick, who earned Academic All-American honors this week, continued her steady junior season with a steady first round.
Also putting together a good first round for the Cougars was true freshman Nicole Newren, who fired an 80. But the Cougars failed to earn the crucial fourth score as Summer Pierce and Adrianne Gibby shot 90 and 88 respectively.
With team scores relatively high for the first day BYU coaches felt they had a chance to hang with the top pack, but having to count an 88 score cost the Cougars that luxury. BYU must now face the task of coming from far behind to qualify for the NCAA tournament. Only the top eight teams from each of the three regionals will advance to the NCAA Championship tournament.
The Cougars, who were hampered by six-inch rough and a few costly double boggies, look to improve upon their first round.
"We are a better team than what we showed today," BYU coach Gary Howard said. "I really think we'll bounce back tomorrow and play the way we are capable of playing."
The second round begins Friday at 7:30 a.m. with the final round on Saturday.
TEAM SCORES
1. Arizona 287
2. Stanford 302
3. Michigan State 304
4. Memphis State 305
5. Ohio State 306
6. UCLA 307
7. Tennessee 308
USC 308
Arizona State 308
Oregon 308
Washington 308
12. Nevada 310
13. Oregon State 311
14. Furman 312
15. Indiana 314
16. Missouri 318
17. Colorado 320
18. BYU 322
19. SW Missouri St. 334
20. Weber State 352
21. Central Conn. 363
BYU INDIVIDUAL SCORES
Carrie Summerhays--77
Lisa Dernick--77
Summer Pierce--90
Adrianne Gibby--88
Nicole Newren--80