Hosting the BYU Dixie Classic in Seventh

ST. GEORGE -- After a two-week break from competition, the BYU women’s golf team is playing the role of host to a 15-team tournament at the BYU Dixie Classic in St. George and currently sits in seventh place at 51-over-par.

On a cool, breezy day at the Entrada at Snow Canyon Golf Course, the Cougars improved in the second round by three strokes overall as several team members improved their individual position.

“We had a good day,” said head coach Sue Nyhus. “It was good to see everyone improve in the second round.”

After finishing the first round tied for 20th place, senior Natalia Jimenez ended the second in tenth place at 6-over-par, scoring a 2-over 74. She made two birdies in the second round.

“Natalia had a great second round,” Nyhus said. “I was happy with her performance.”

Close behind was sophomore Jade Bollinger, who finished the day in 16th place at 10-over-par. After a 6-over opening round, she improved by two strokes in the second round by scoring an impressive four birdies.

Maggie Yuan ended the first two rounds tied at the No. 23 spot at 13-over-par, including a 7-over second round in which she made two birdies on the first and 12th holes.

Shayla Forsey and Sara Romero scored a total of three birdies in the second round. Forsey began the front nine with two consecutive birdies while Romero finished the back nine with a birdie.

Freshmen Staisha Stratton and Mercedes Chytraus played individually for the Cougars and both finished with respectable rounds. Junior Camille Gardner withdrew from the tournament with an injury.

Denver is well ahead of the pack at 3-over-par, 28 strokes ahead of second-place Colorado State at 31-over-par.

“Denver has a good team,” Nyhus said. “They focus on shooting at par and they had a good day.”

Wednesday’s round three can be followed on golfstat.com. Tee time begins at 8:30 a.m. MT.

“Hopefully we come out sticking to our decisions and playing good golf on Wednesday,” Nyhus said.

2009 BYU Dixie Classic
The field
1   Denver           +3
2   Colorado State   +31
3   Florida          +36
4   Washington       +44
5   San Diego State  +47
6   Wyoming          +49
7   BYU              +51
T8  New Mexico State +55
T8  North Texas      +55
10  Texas State      +58
11  Northern Arizona +64
12  Weber State      +94
T13 Utah Valley      +100
T13 Southern Utah    +100
15  Idaho State      +116
BYU 7th/15  +51  315-312
T10 Jimenez   76-74   +6
T16 Bollinger 78-76   +10
T23 Yuan      78-79   +13
T52 Forsey    83-83   +22
T68 Romero    85-87   +28
79  Stratton* 93-92   +41
82  Chytraus* 96-101  +53
* - playing individually