IRVINE -- The BYU women's golf team snatched second place at the Anteater Invitational Tuesday, the Cougars' best finish of the season.

Junior Margaret Gibby (75-74-73--222), who placed fifth in the individual standings, led a steady Cougar quintet that is finding its rhythm as the season winds down.

"We had a good finish against a very strong field," BYU head coach Sue Nyhus said. "I'm very encouraged by the way we played."

BYU (307-300-305--912) had a solid hold on second place throughout the tournament. San Francisco (291-295-297--883) ran away with the top spot, but third place Irvine (307-310-302--919) was still seven strokes back of the Cougars.

Individually, BYU had two players in the top 20: Gibby and junior Natalie Newren (80-76-74--230). Freshmen Alexis Edwards (75-78-79--232) and Rachel Newren (78-75-79--232) both placed 21st and senior Nicole Newren-Chandler (79-75-85--239) rounded out the Cougars' five.

BYU's strong outing comes on the heels of a third-place finish at the Bobcat Classic last week in Goodyear, Ariz.

"We're glad to be bringing home some hardware," Nyhus said.

The Anteater, hosted by Irvine, was held at the Coto de Gaza Golf and Racquet Club on a par-72 course that measures 6,072 yards. The tournament fielded a competitive group of the following 13 teams: San Francisco (41), San Jose State (43), Michigan (45), Virginia (47), Denver, Iowa State, UC Irvine, Colorado, Colorado State, Cal State Northridge, Kansas and Boise State.

The top individual at the Anteater was San Francisco's Kristi Larsen (72-74-70--216). Host Irvine was the victor in last year's tournament. BYU did not compete in the Anteater in 2003.

The Cougars will be scratching it out next in St. George, Utah as it plays host to the BYU Dixie Classic April 5-6.

Anteater Invitational          Irvine, Calif.
March 15-16                    Coto de Caza Golf Club
Par: 72                        Yardage: 6,072
                
Fin. Name                      Score  
  2  Brigham Young             307-300-305--912 (+48)
T 5  Margaret Gibby            75-74-73--222    (+6)
T 18 Natalie Newren            80-76-74--230    (+14)
T 21 Rachel Newren             78-75-79--232    (+16)
T 21 Alexis Edwards            75-78-79--232    (+16)
T 45 Nicole Newren-Chandler    79-75-85--239    (+23)
Fin. Team                      Score
  1  San Francisco             291-295-297--883 (+19)
  2  Brigham Young             307-300-305--912 (+48)
  3  UC Irvine                 307-310-302--919 (+55)
  4  Michigan                  302-310-308--920 (+56)
  5  Kansas                    322-301-303--926 (+62)
T 6  Virginia                  316-309-305--930 (+66)
T 6  San Jose State            306-310-314--930 (+66) 
  8  Colorado State            311-314-320--945 (+81) 
  9  Colorado                  303-321-323--947 (+83) 
  10 Denver                    312-314-323--949 (+85) 
T 11 Iowa State                309-314-333--956 (+92) 
T 11 CS Northridge             322-325-309--956 (+92) 
  13 Boise State               310-322-327--959 (+95)
      
         
Fin. Top 20 Players            School           Scores  
  1  Kristi Larsen             San Francisco    72-74-70--216 (E)
  2  Elizabeth Allen           CS Northridge    75-72-70--217 (+1)
  3  Nikki Jacoby              San Francisco    71-74-75--220 (+4)
  4  Angela Won                UC Irvine        73-76-72--221 (+5)
T 5  Margaret Gibby            Brigham Young    75-74-73--222 (+6)
T 5  Joan M. Shimozaki         San Francisco    74-73-75--222 (+6)
  7  Tai Kinney                San Jose State   77-74-73--224 (+8)
T 8  Ashley Gomes              San Jose State   74-77-74--225 (+9)
T 8  Jordan Auten              San Francisco    74-74-77--225 (+9)
  10 Minnie Choi               UC Irvine        74-74-78--226 (+10)
T 11 Laura Olin                Michigan         75-79-73--227 (+11)
T 11 Saki Uechi*               UC Los Angeles   78-75-74--227 (+11)
T 11 Amanda Costner            Kansas           77-75-75--227 (+11)
T 11 Sally Shonk               Virginia         78-75-74--227 (+11)
  15 Hannah Hoch               Colorado         74-78-76--228 (+12)
T 16 Brianna Broderick         Michigan         75-77-77--229 (+13)
T 16 Jill Womble               Kansas           82-74-73--229 (+13)
T 18 Natalie Newren            Brigham Young    80-76-74--230 (+14)
T 18 Hana Kim*                 UC Los Angeles   73-83-74--230 (+14)
  20 Louise Kenney             Iowa State       75-77-79--231 (+15)
*Played as an individual

IRVINE -- The BYU women's golf team had a firm grasp on second place Monday after two rounds at the Anteater Invitational.

Behind the steady play of junior Margaret Gibby (75-74--149), the Cougars (307-300--607) thrust themselves to the forefront of a competitive field that included four top-50 clubs. Gibby's performance positioned her sixth in the individual standings.

BYU head coach Sue Nyhus said she was happy with her team's play.

"We're proud of them," she said. "The team's been getting more and more confident."

Besides Gibby, the Cougars had two others in the top 20. Freshmen Rachel Newren (78-75--153) and Alexis Edwards (75-78--153) tied for 18th. Rounding out the Cougars' five were solid performances from senior Nicole Newren-Chandler (79-75--154) and her sister Natalie (80-76--156).

Nyhus said she was pleased with her team's preparation for the tournament.

"All of their preparation and hard work with Josh Baker in the training room is showing up," she said. "There are girls complaining about having to play 36 holes and our girls are jogging down the fairway."

The Anteater, hosted by UC Irvine, is held at the Coto de Gaza Golf and Racquet Club on a par-72 course that measures 6,072 yards. The tournament is fielding a competitive group of the following 13 teams: San Francisco (41), San Jose State (43), Michigan (45), Virginia (47), Denver, Iowa State, UC Irvine, Colorado, Colorado State, Cal State Northridge, Kansas and Boise State.

BYU enters the final round Tuesday 21 strokes behind first-place San Francisco (291-295--586), but five strokes ahead of third-place Michigan (302-310--612). If the Cougars hold on to second place, it will be their highest finish of the season.

Anteater Invitational        Irvine, Calif.
March 15-16                  Coto de Caza Golf Club
Par: 72                      Yardage: 6,072
          
Fin. Name                    Score 
  2  Brigham Young           307-300--607 (+31)
T 7  Margaret Gibby          75-74--149   (+5)
T 18 Rachel Newren           78-75--153   (+9)
T 18 Alexis Edwards          75-78--153   (+9)
T 23 Nicole Newren-Chandler  79-75--154   (+10)
T 30 Natalie Newren          80-76--156   (+12)
Fin. Team                    Score
  1  San Francisco           291-295--586 (+10) 
  2  Brigham Young           307-300--607 (+31) 
  3  Michigan                302-310--612 (+36) 
  4  San Jose State          306-310--616 (+40) 
  5  UC Irvine               307-310--617 (+41) 
T 6  Kansas                  322-301--623 (+47) 
T 6  Iowa State              309-314--623 (+47) 
  8  Colorado                303-321--624 (+48) 
T 9  Virginia                316-309--625 (+49) 
T 9  Colorado State          311-314--625 (+49) 
  11 Denver                  312-314--626 (+50) 
  12 Boise State             310-322--632 (+56) 
  13 CS Northridge           322-325--647 (+71)
 
Fin. Top 20 Players          School           Scores 
  1  Nikki Jacoby            San Francisco    71-74--145 (+1)
  2  Kristi Larsen           San Francisco    72-74--146 (+2)
T 3  Elizabeth Allen         CS Northridge    75-72--147 (+3)
T 3  Joan M. Shimozaki       San Francisco    74-73--147 (+3)
T 5  Minnie Choi             UC Irvine        74-74--148 (+4)
T 5  Jordan Auten            San Francisco    74-74--148 (+4)
T 7  Margaret Gibby          Brigham Young    75-74--149 (+5)
T 7  Angela Won              UC Irvine        73-76--149 (+5)
T 9  Maria Perrson-Gulda     Colorado         76-74--150 (+6)
T 9  Alyssa Otero            Denver           76-74--150 (+6)
T 11 Ashley Gomes            San Jose State   74-77--151 (+7)
T 11 Tai Kinney              San Jose State   77-74--151 (+7)
T 13 Amanda Costner          Kansas           77-75--152 (+8)
T 13 Louise Kenney           Iowa State       75-77--152 (+8)
T 13 Brianna Broderick       Michigan         75-77--152 (+8)
T 13 Hannah Hoch             Colorado         74-78--152 (+8)
T 13 Stephanie Linnell       Colorado State   78-74--152 (+8)
T 18 Saki Uechi*             UC Los Angeles   78-75--153 (+9)
T 18 Leanne Owens            Iowa State       76-77--153 (+9)
T 18 Rachel Newren           Brigham Young    78-75--153 (+9)
T 18 Sally Shonk             Virginia         78-75--153 (+9)
T 18 Alexis Edwards          Brigham Young    75-78--153 (+9)
*Played as an individual