SUNRIVER -- BYU's women's golf team played their best round of the tournament and finished 24th at the 2005 NCAA Golf Championship in Sunriver, Ore. on Friday.
During the fourth and final round, BYU carded a team-total 300, its best of the tournament. The Cougars also broke a 23-year-old record for team total in a 72-hole tournament. The previous record of 1267 set in 1982 was erased as BYU finished with a four-round total of 1238, a difference of 29 strokes. With the result, BYU also earns its first top-25 finish in 20 years and its second-best NCAA Championship finish ever.
"It's been a great experience playing in this tournament," Nyhus said. "Our returning players played hard and gained priceless experience. Having been in this tournament will move our program forward."
Sophomore Rachel Newren led the Cougars for the ninth consecutive tournament this season as she finished tied for 68th overall. Newren, ranked No. 32 in the nation, bogied her last four holes to finish two-over 73, her best round of the tournament. She finished the tournament twenty-over-par 304, which ties Pam Miller for the BYU record in a 72-hole tournament. Newren also had BYU's fourth best NCAA finish ever and best since Carrie Summerhays placed 40th at the NCAA Championship in 2000 as an individual qualifier.
True Freshman Juli Wightman had a strong tournament as she carded the second best overall score for the Cougars in the NCAA finals. Wightman put together a fourth-round three-over-par 74 to finish in 92nd place at 25-over-par 309. BYU's other underclassman, sophomore Alexis Edwards had her best day of the tournament as well. She carded a final-round five-over-par 76 to finish tied for 110th. Seniors Natalie Newren and Margaret Wright finished tied for 121st place after carding a 77 and a 79 respectively in the final round.
BYU's top three finishers were its three youngest players. With its first top 25 finish in 20 years and its top three players returning next year, the future looks bright for the BYU women's golf program.
Championship Final Scores
1. Duke 292-303-278-297--1170 +34
2. UCLA 288-302-292-293--1175 +39
3. Auburn 290-296-295-295--1176 +40
4. Pepperdine 291-295-299-294--1179 +43
5. California 295-299-296-290--1180 +44
6. Tennessee 300-303-299-285--1187 +51
6. Ohio State 301-296-300-290--1187 +51
8. Arizona St.303-301-297-289--1190 +54
8. Okla. St. 298-306-299-287--1190 +54
10. Florida 301-304-297-293--1195 +59
11. Arkansas 296-307-293-301--1197 +61
11. USC 287-312-301-297--1197 +61
13. Virginia 304-308-295-293--1200 +64
14. U. Wash. 292-314-296-299--1201 +65
15. Tulane 305-312-299-286--1202 +66
16. Missouri 307-300-296-302--1205 +69
17. Mich. St. 304-301-299-302--1206 +70
18. UC Irvine 311-304-297-299--1211 +75
19. Stanford 300-311-298-303--1212 +76
20. Purdue 309-302-304-301--1216 +80
21. Furman 307-301-309-299--1219 +81
22. Texas A&M 305-306-309-299--1219 +83
23. Tulsa 307-313-310-292--1222 +86
24. BYU 305-317-316-300--1238 +102
BYU's Individual Scores
T68. Rachel Newren 75-79-77-73--304
T92. Julie Wightman 74-80-81-74--309
T110. Alexis Edwards 80-80-77-76--313
T121. Natalie Newren 79-78-87-77--321
T121. Margaret Wright 77-84-81-79--321
For complete results visit www.golfstat.com