STANFORD -- BYU's women's golf team was nine strokes short of qualifying for the NCAA Championship finishing in 13th place at the 2004 NCAA West Regional at Stanford Golf Course on Saturday.
BYU's 13th place finish was their best regional finish since 1994 when they also finished 13th. The Cougars started the day in 16th place and put together the eighth-best team total on the day, 17-over 305, but it wasn't enough to crack into the top eight and advance to the championship round.
"I'm so proud of this team," BYU head coach Sue Nyhus said. "They were poised, confident, and did everything they needed to do, but just came up a few shots short."
UCLA led from start to finish and took home the title after finishing three-under 282-293-286--861. California finished in second and host Stanford came in third. The top eight teams from the NCAA West Regional advanced to the 2004 NCAA Championships in Auburn, Ala. BYU's best NCAA regional finish is 11th place in 1993 and has never advanced past the NCAA West Regional.
Individually, true freshman Rachel Newren finished 37th after a final round 79. Newren was in 17th place after two rounds but fell back out of the top 20 on the final day. Another true freshman Alexis Edwards had the best final round for the Cougars as she went three-over 75 and finished in 76th place out of 108 individuals. Natalie Newren finished a solid tournament with a 49th place finish and a final round 76. Nicole Newren-Chandler, competing in her last collegiate tournament finished with a 77 and 72nd place. Margaret Gibby also carded a final round 77 and placed 63rd overall.
The Cougars end the season with two solid performances. BYU earned its best MWC Tournament finish (third place) in four years and the Cougars also earned it second best NCAA regional finish in school history.
"We know we moving in the right direction and were only going to get better," Nyhus said.
TEAM STANDINGS (PAR 72)
1. UCLA 282-293-286--861
2. California 290-289-289--868
3. Stanford 293-297-293--883
4. Washington 298-309-285--892
5. Georgia 304-298-298--900
6. Ohio State 303-302-296--901
7. Arizona State 312-298-298--908
8. Texas 306-296-311--913*
9. Washington State 302-304-307--913
9. Oregon 305-303-305--913
11. Denver 302-299-314--915
12. Pepperdine 300-312-305--917
13. BRIGHAM YOUNG 310-307-305--922
13. Texas Tech 304-309-309--922
15. San Jose State 311-308-305--924
15. San Diego State 310-303-311--924
17. San Francisco 308-313-311--932
18. CSU-Northridge 310-305-321--936
19. New Mexico State 318-305-317--940
20. Portland State 320-308-315--943
21. Oral Roberts 328-320-321--969
* advanced after a playoff
BYU INDIVIDUALS
37. Rachel Newren 75-72-79--226
T49. Natalie Newren 76-79-76--231
T63. Margaret Gibby 81-76-77--234
T72. Nicole Newren-Chandler 79-80-77--236
T76. Alexis Edwards 80-82-75--237
108 participants