Erekson Leads Team to Dixie Classic Win

ST. GEORGE -- For the second year in a row, the BYU women's golf team clinched an exciting win at the Dixie Classic. Senior Juli Erekson led all Cougars and won the individual title of the tournament, her first win at a college golf tournament.

"A lot of players had personal breakthroughs at this tournament," said BYU head coach Sue Nyhus.

Erekson shot a 4-over-par 76 in round three, hitting a birdie on the first hole and two on the back nine. Her strong score from the second round, a 4-under-par 68, helped her achieve a solid lead throughout the tournament and a final score of 1-under-par. Erekson finished seven strokes ahead of teammate Shayla Forsey, who had a career best finish of second place.

"It was a great tournament," Nyhus said. "The weather was beautiful, our players were successful, and we're excited to have our second consecutive win at the Dixie Classic."

Several Cougars finished in the top-20 at the tournament. Natalia Jimenez finished fifth at 7-over-par while Ashley Childers tied for 12th at 12-over-par, and Daphne Vines followed tied for 15th at 13-over-par.

The BYU Dixie Classic consisted of 72 competitors from 13 teams, including No. 45 Texas Tech and No. 48 Nebraska. Nebraska finished in second place at 30-over-par--five strokes behind BYU. Colorado State finished in third place at 49-over-par.

"We're looking forward to bringing our skills together and playing great golf at our next tournament," Nyhus said.

The Cougars will next be in action April 11 and 12 at the 2008 Roar-EE Invitational in Mamoroneck, New York.

TEAM Leaderboard
Place     School               To Par     Today     Total
1         BYU                  +25        +16       288-297-304--889
2         Nebraska             +30        +7        300-299-295--894
3         Colorado State       +49        +17       294-314-305--913
4         Texas Tech           +58        +11       304-319-299--922
5         Oral Roberts         +76        +29       308-315-317--940
6         New Mexico State     +81        +27       309-321-315--945
7         Portland State       +83        +33       312-314-321--947
8         Wyoming              +94        +30       321-319-318--958
9         BYU (B)              +100       +23       324-329-311--964
10        Weber State          +103       +38       315-326-326--967
11        UVSC                 +166       +55       347-340-343--1030
12        Idaho State          +187       +56       353-354-344--1051
13        Southern Utah        +189       +66       342-357-354--1053
BYU Individual Leaderboard
Place     Player               To Par     Today     Total
1         Juli Erekson         -1         +4        71-68-76--215
T2        Shayla Forsey        +6         +3        74-73-75--222
5         Natalia Jimenez      +7         +8        69-74-80--223
T12       Ashley Childers      +12        +3        72-81-75--228
T15       Daphne Vines         +13        +3        76-78-75--229
T20       Jade Bollinger       +16        +6        77-77-78--232
T33       Sara Romero          +25        +3        83-83-75--241
T33       Hannah Summerhays    +25        +3        81-85-75--241
T61       Camille Gardner      +44        +14       86-88-86--260