BYU Finishes Seventh at UNLV Spring Invitational

LAS -- The 41st-ranked BYU women's golf team wrapped up the final day of the UNLV Spring Invitational, as they shot the fourth-lowest round of the day (303) and finished in seventh place.

The tournament presented the Cougars with their season's most difficult field of competitors, including Pepperdine (Golfweek No. 5), Tennessee (9), Arizona (19), USC (23), Michigan (25), Purdue (26) and UNLV (27).

"We had a really strong round today," said head coach Sue Nyhus. "We got off to a bit of a slow start, but we played really, really well in the middle. We had some struggles on the 16th hole, but overall we played really well."

Rachel Newren led the Cougars in the final round with the team's best round (71) and finished in ninth place at 10 over par. Newren's final-round 71 ties her second-best round this season, while her ninth-place finish marks the sixth time Newren has finished in the top 20 this season.

"Rachel shooting under par in the final round really helped the team," Nyhus said. "It really helps to have a low score."

Freshman Juli Wightman proved she is ready for the collegiate golf world as she finished the tournament at 17 over par (233) and tied for 24th place, her second-best finish of the season.

Senior Margaret Gibby-Wright and sophomore Alexis Edwards both shot 78 in the final round. Gibby-Wright finished the tournament at 23 over par, while Edwards finished at 25 over par. Danielle von Arnim also improved from the previous round, shooting four strokes better and finishing at 33 over par in the tournament.

The Cougars' finish in this year's tournament will affect their chance of qualifying for the regional competition in May, as many West-region teams were present, including USC, Pepperdine, Arizona, UNLV, Nevada, Northern Arizona, Denver and Eastern Washington.

The Cougars have a long break before playing host at the BYU Dixie Classic April 4-5.

Black Mountain Golf and Country Club -- Par 72 -- 6,009 yards
TEAM RESULTS (Golfweek Ranking)
1.  USC (23)              306-299-290--895
2.  Pepperdine (5)        317-302-291--910
3.  Arizona (19)          312-298-306--916
T4. Tennessee (9)         318-306-302--926
T4. Michigan (25)         316-308-302--926
6.  UNLV-A (27)           312-309-306--927
7.  BYU (41)              325-310-303--938
8.  Purdue (26)           326-303-312--941
9.  Nevada (63)           321-310-311--942
10. Iowa St. (60)         327-312-307--946
11. Nebraska (63)         329-309-317--955
12. Northern Arizona      332-321-303--956
13. Denver (69)           332-316-313--961
14. Indiana               343-318-321--982
15. Eastern Washington    338-317-328--983
16. Memphis               336-327-321--984
17. UNLV-B                350-327-328--1005
18. Northern Iowa         344-340-322--1006
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T9.  Rachel Newren          79-76-71--226
T24. Juli Wightman          79-78-76--233
T36. Margaret Gibby-Wright   86-75-78--239
T42. Alexis Edwards         82-81-78--241
T75. Danielle von Arnim     85-84-80--249