SAMMAMISH, Wash. (Oct. 10) -- Despite the poor conditions, strong outings from several Cougars allowed BYU to finish ninth, 315-298-307--920 +56, in the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational.
The annual three-day event, hosted by Washington, was played at the par 72, 6,127-yard Sahalee Country Club. No. 3 USC, 296-291-295--882 +18, took first among the 16-team pool and was followed by No. 4 Arizona State, 301-295-295--891 +27.
"We got off to a rough start, but the character of the team came through and they fought hard to the last hole," BYU head coach Sue Nyhus said. "We have a bright future looking toward this season."
The Cougars finished highest among Mountain West Conference teams, ending one stroke in front of UNLV, 312-302-307--921 +57, and six strokes ahead of No. 11 New Mexico 323-297-306--926 +62.
BYU had its best outing during the second round where the team finished 10-over-par. After the second round the Cougars sat in ninth place and held onto their position through the final round.
Juli Erekson led the Cougars through the tournament where she finished 76-75-76--227. During the final round Erekson struggled through the back nine but ended the day 4-over-par, after shooting three birdies on the front nine.
Natalia Jimenez ended the Invitational one stroke behind Erekson, 80-72-76--228 +12. She snagged the lowest round of the tournament for the Cougars during the second round shooting an even-par 72.
Freshman Sara Romero struggled during the first two rounds but led BYU during the final round with a 3-over-par performance.
The Cougars' fall schedule will continue when they travel to Las Vegas to play in the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown Oct. 29-31.
Pl TeamRd1Rd2Rd3Finalto Par
1 Southern California296291295882+18
2 Arizona State301295295891+27
3 Oregon307 290 303 900+36
4 Arizona305 296 301 902+38
5 California305 297 301 903+39
6 Pepperdine310 297 300 907+43
7 Stanford304 302 304 910+46
8 San Francisco316 295 304 915+51
9 Brigham Young Univ.315 298 307 920+56
10 UNLV312 302 307 921+57
11 Washington State 318 304 302 924+60
T12 New Mexico323 297 306 926+62
T12 Washington314 301 311 926+62
14 Oregon State 327 307 314 948+84
15 Long Beach State328 306 315 949+85
16 Penn State 331 312 320 963+99
Pl.NameRd1Rd2Rd3Finalto Par
T20 Juli Erekson 76 75 76 227 +11
T25 Natalia Jimenez 80 72 76 228 +12
T36 Daphne Vines 77 73 81 231 +15
T63 Hannah Summerhays 82 78 80 240 +24
T66 Sara Romero 84 82 75 241 +25