PROVO -- BYU sophomore Kelsey Vines has been selected the Mountain West Conference Women's Golfer of the Month for her performance during the Cougars' two top-10 finishes in February.
Vines opened the spring season with her second consecutive Top-7 finish in the 64-golfer field at The Gold Rush by Golfsmith on Feb. 14-15 in Seal Beach, Calif. The sophomore carded a 54-hole total of 12-over 228 (80-76-72) on the par 72, 6,170-yard Old Ranch Golf Course to pace the Cougars. As a team, BYU came in fourth place at 85-over 949 (324-318-307).
"Kelsey has been playing great against some great golfers," said BYU head coach Carrie Roberts. "She has really stepped it up and it has ignited the whole team."
The product of St. George, Utah closed out the month by tying for eighth place at the Bruin Wave Invitational in Santa Clarita, Calif, Feb. 28 - March 2. Vines posted a three-over 219 (72-76-71) on the par 72, 6,282 yard Robinson Ranch Golf Course. Her third-round 1-under 71 ties the sophomore's lowest round of the year. Vines' card helped BYU to an eighth-place team finish (51-over 915) among a 15-team field that included No. 3 UCLA and No. 7 Arizona.
In 12 rounds played this season, Vines has recorded fours rounds at par or better, including two rounds of 71. The sophomore ranks seventh in the Mountain West in stroke average at 75.50. This marks the first MWC Golfer of the Month award for Vines.
"The thing about Kelsey is, you can really see that she wants it," Roberts said. "She has worked very hard and it is paying off for her and our team."