KAPOLEI, Hawai`i (Nov. 5, 2003) -- With wind and high temperatures beating against them, the BYU women's golf team managed to survive the conditions en route to an eighth-place finish out of 17 teams at the Kent Youel Invitational.
The Cougars scored strong in the first round, making a tough stand in fifth place (307) and then dropping to seventh in the second round (311). The first day of the tournament proved to be emotionally and physically draining, as BYU battled through 36 holes.
"We're still making progress with every round," BYU coach Sue Nyhus said. "We realized we have to get better, but overall we're on our way to improvement."
The final round showed improvement, as the team focused on their weaknesses and let their shots fall. Junior Natalie Newren played another consistent three rounds (72-77-78--227), as she led BYU individually at tied for 13th place.
As the wind picked up towards the end of the first day, the Cougars displayed endurance and pulled it together for two rounds. In the last round, the BYU squad overcame the previous rounds to shoot a 308 and finish with an overall score of 307-311-308--926.
"It was a scoreable course," junior Margaret Gibby said. "We all had our individual struggles, but in general we overcame them and stayed upbeat."
The Kent Youel Invitational featured one of the most beautiful golf courses, which BYU was honored to play on during the season.
"We're glad to have the opportunity to play here," Gibby said.
The last tournament, the Las Vegas Founders, of the fall season for the women's golf team comes Nov. 10-12. It will be hosted by conference-rival UNLV and played at the Anthem Country Course.
Kent Youel Invitational
Kapolei Golf Course Oahu, HI
Dates: 11/04 - 11/05 Par: 72
Yardage: 5900
FINAL RESULTS
1 Oklahoma 297 299 293 889
2 Washington 301 301 289 891
3 San Jose State 303 302 302 907
4 Long Beach State 307 306 294 907
5 Texas A&M 301 303 309 913
6 Oregon 308 306 300 914
7 Oregon State 308 314 300 922
8 BYU 307 311 308 926
9 San Francisco 322 304 306 932
10 CSU-Northridge 308 314 311 933
11 New Mexico State 320 313 301 934
12 Colorado 312 313 310 935
Hawai`i 315 309 311 935
14 Portland State 314 309 317 940
15 Santa Clara 319 319 309 947
16 UC-Irvine 314 321 321 956
17 Southern Illinois 928 327 317 972
8 Brigham Young Univ. 307 311 308 926
T13 Natalie Newren 72 77 78 227
T 40 Margaret Gibby 76 81 76 233
T 46 Nicole N.-Chandler 77 81 76 234
T 50 Alexis Edwards 82 75 78 235
T 59 Rachel Newren 84 78 78 240