IRVINE -- The BYU women's golf team snatched second place at the Anteater Invitational Tuesday, the Cougars' best finish of the season.
Junior Margaret Gibby (75-74-73--222), who placed fifth in the individual standings, led a steady Cougar quintet that is finding its rhythm as the season winds down.
"We had a good finish against a very strong field," BYU head coach Sue Nyhus said. "I'm very encouraged by the way we played."
BYU (307-300-305--912) had a solid hold on second place throughout the tournament. San Francisco (291-295-297--883) ran away with the top spot, but third place Irvine (307-310-302--919) was still seven strokes back of the Cougars.
Individually, BYU had two players in the top 20: Gibby and junior Natalie Newren (80-76-74--230). Freshmen Alexis Edwards (75-78-79--232) and Rachel Newren (78-75-79--232) both placed 21st and senior Nicole Newren-Chandler (79-75-85--239) rounded out the Cougars' five.
BYU's strong outing comes on the heels of a third-place finish at the Bobcat Classic last week in Goodyear, Ariz.
"We're glad to be bringing home some hardware," Nyhus said.
The Anteater, hosted by Irvine, was held at the Coto de Gaza Golf and Racquet Club on a par-72 course that measures 6,072 yards. The tournament fielded a competitive group of the following 13 teams: San Francisco (41), San Jose State (43), Michigan (45), Virginia (47), Denver, Iowa State, UC Irvine, Colorado, Colorado State, Cal State Northridge, Kansas and Boise State.
The top individual at the Anteater was San Francisco's Kristi Larsen (72-74-70--216). Host Irvine was the victor in last year's tournament. BYU did not compete in the Anteater in 2003.
The Cougars will be scratching it out next in St. George, Utah as it plays host to the BYU Dixie Classic April 5-6.
Anteater Invitational Irvine, Calif.
March 15-16 Coto de Caza Golf Club
Par: 72 Yardage: 6,072
Fin. Name Score
2 Brigham Young 307-300-305--912 (+48)
T 5 Margaret Gibby 75-74-73--222 (+6)
T 18 Natalie Newren 80-76-74--230 (+14)
T 21 Rachel Newren 78-75-79--232 (+16)
T 21 Alexis Edwards 75-78-79--232 (+16)
T 45 Nicole Newren-Chandler 79-75-85--239 (+23)
Fin. Team Score
1 San Francisco 291-295-297--883 (+19)
2 Brigham Young 307-300-305--912 (+48)
3 UC Irvine 307-310-302--919 (+55)
4 Michigan 302-310-308--920 (+56)
5 Kansas 322-301-303--926 (+62)
T 6 Virginia 316-309-305--930 (+66)
T 6 San Jose State 306-310-314--930 (+66)
8 Colorado State 311-314-320--945 (+81)
9 Colorado 303-321-323--947 (+83)
10 Denver 312-314-323--949 (+85)
T 11 Iowa State 309-314-333--956 (+92)
T 11 CS Northridge 322-325-309--956 (+92)
13 Boise State 310-322-327--959 (+95)
Fin. Top 20 Players School Scores
1 Kristi Larsen San Francisco 72-74-70--216 (E)
2 Elizabeth Allen CS Northridge 75-72-70--217 (+1)
3 Nikki Jacoby San Francisco 71-74-75--220 (+4)
4 Angela Won UC Irvine 73-76-72--221 (+5)
T 5 Margaret Gibby Brigham Young 75-74-73--222 (+6)
T 5 Joan M. Shimozaki San Francisco 74-73-75--222 (+6)
7 Tai Kinney San Jose State 77-74-73--224 (+8)
T 8 Ashley Gomes San Jose State 74-77-74--225 (+9)
T 8 Jordan Auten San Francisco 74-74-77--225 (+9)
10 Minnie Choi UC Irvine 74-74-78--226 (+10)
T 11 Laura Olin Michigan 75-79-73--227 (+11)
T 11 Saki Uechi* UC Los Angeles 78-75-74--227 (+11)
T 11 Amanda Costner Kansas 77-75-75--227 (+11)
T 11 Sally Shonk Virginia 78-75-74--227 (+11)
15 Hannah Hoch Colorado 74-78-76--228 (+12)
T 16 Brianna Broderick Michigan 75-77-77--229 (+13)
T 16 Jill Womble Kansas 82-74-73--229 (+13)
T 18 Natalie Newren Brigham Young 80-76-74--230 (+14)
T 18 Hana Kim* UC Los Angeles 73-83-74--230 (+14)
20 Louise Kenney Iowa State 75-77-79--231 (+15)
*Played as an individual