ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — BYU women’s golf shot an 8-under score of 280 in the final round to post a 54-hole total of 858 and come from behind to win the Dick McGuire Invitational at UNM Championship Course on Monday.
“We looked super confident and everyone came out determined to play their best,” said BYU assistant coach Lea Garner. “We really stayed in the moment and focused on playing one shot at a time.”
The victory marks the first time since the 2015-16 campaign that the Cougars kicked-off their season with a win in the first event.
BYU began the final round seven shots off the lead held by San Jose State who finished with an even-par 864 for the tournament. The Cougars final round 280 (-8) combined with the Spartans 5-over 293 gave BYU a six-shot victory.
Sophomore Lila Galeai shot a 2-under 70 in the final round to finished in a tie for first but came up short on the first playoff hole to Pepperdine’s Kaleiya Romero. Galeai shot 10-under par for the tournament with rounds of 66-70-70—206. Her first-place tie marks Galeai’s best finish as a Cougar.
Allysha Mae Mateo, the 2020-21 WCC Golfer of the Year, posted a team best 5-under 67 in the final round and finished the tournament in 12th place with rounds of 73-76-67—216. Annick Haczkiewicz shot a 2-under par 70 in the final round to finish one shot behind Mateo with rounds of 76-71-70—217.
"The way we played in the final rounds was the definition of mental toughness,” said head coach Carrie Roberts. “We knew we needed to come through with solid rounds and then we did it. Lila was a stud all week and got her first collegiate win. Everyone else stepped up in a big way today and Allysha showed why she was golfer of the year last year. I’m super proud of these girls.
Freshman Addie Anderson shot 76-70-73—219 in her first collegiate event to secure her first top-25 finish as a Cougar. Senior Kerstin Fotu rounded out the scoring with a three-round total of 234.
"This win gives us a huge boost going into the rest of the season," Garner said. "It shows just how good these ladies are and that we can compete with some of the best in the country.
BYU will play in the Mercedes Benz Collegiate on September 20-21 at Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee.