Pouring Rain Couldn't Stop Gibby

CORVALLIS -- Despite persistent rain, sophomore Margaret Gibby captured her first top-10 finish in her first collegiate event after shooting 73 in Tuesday's third and final round of the OSU/Shanico Invitational.

Gibby's 54-hole score of six-over-par put her tied for eighth in the first tournament of the season.

"I'm blown away," Gibby said."I came into this tournament not expecting anything, and to start off the year with a top-10 finish makes me ask myself what I'm truly capable of doing this year."

The Cougars fought pouring rain through their entire round and were still able to hold on to their ninth place standing. The team shot three consistent rounds of 309 for a 927 total and just 11 shots back from a top-five finish.

"We had really difficult conditions to play in today but we toughed it out," said BYU head coach Sue Nyhus. "Margaret had one of those steady rounds hitting the fairway and then the green, hitting the next fairway and then the next green, and left only one hole imperfect."

Senior Jessica Gardner ended the tournament with a strong 76 putting herself in a tie for 34th. Freshman Symantha Mendenhall and Danielle von Arnim closed out their first collegiate event with 77-80-80--237 and 80-84-91--255. Mendenhall finished tied for 51st and von Arnim tied for 93rd. Sophomore Natalie Newren shot 82-77-80--239 and in a tie for 60th.

California kept their streak alive after winning the event for the third year in a row with the score of 884 and a nine-shot lead over UCLA.

This week the Cougars will practice at Thanksgiving Point Golf Club to prepare for their second tournament of the season hosted by New Mexico.

"Thanksgiving Point is most like New Mexico's course," Coach Nyhus said. "We will practice long-ball hitting on holes with more open trees like the ones on New Mexico's course."

The Cougars' next event will be New Mexico's Dick McGuire Invitational on Sept. 26-28 in Albuquerque on the UNM Championship Golf Course.

Fin. Teams Scores

1 California, U. of 297-288-299--884

2 UCLA 291-296-306--893

Oregon State U. 298-298-297--893

4 Oregon, U. of 308-300-303--911

5 Colorado, U. of 301-297-318--916

6 San Jose State Univ. 302-305-310--917

7 San Francisco, U. of 313-297-308--918

8 UC - Irvine 303-312-311--926

9 Brigham Young Univ. 309-309-309--927

10 Washington State U. 307-311-315--933

11 Portland State Univ. 310-311-314--935

Idaho, University of 313-310-312--935

13 Weber State Univ. 317-308-316--941

14 Long Beach State 319-303-320--942

15 Boise State Univ. 306-314-325--945

16 Eastern Washington U 321-309-317--947

17 Charleston, Coll. of 308-310-334--952

18 Hawaii, Univ. of 315-323-336--974

BYU Individual Scores

T 8 Margaraet Gibby 76-73-73--222

T 34 Jessica Gardner 76-79-76--231

T 51 Symantha Mendenhall 77-80-80--237

T 60 Natalie Newren 82-77-80--239

T 93 Danielle von Arnim 80-84-91--255