Cougars in 4th at Rainbow Invitational

HONOLULU -- BYU is off to an excellent start sitting in 4th place out of 17 teams behind three top-ranked Californian teams after the first two rounds of Hawaii's Rainbow Invitational.

BYU shot 303-302--605 in Tuesday's 36-hole day and sits behind California, UCLA and Stanford. The Cougars are 24 shots back from the lead and only six shots back from a top 3 finish.

"We had solid play the entire day in the wind," said BYU head coach Sue Nyhus. "Plus, each player had good ball striking, which put us a great position."

Senior Jessica Gardner and sophomore Margaret Gibby led the Cougars with a two-round total of 150 to position themselves tied for 14th individually. Gardner shot 76-74--150, and Gibby finished with 74-76--150 in Tuesday's rounds. Sophomore Natalie Newren is tied for 23rd after carding 75-77--152. Freshmen Symantha Mendenhall and Danielle von Arnim shot 78-75--153 and 85-77--162. Mendenhall is tied for 26th and von Arnim is in 70th place individually.

BYU's third and final round of the Rainbow Invitational begins Wednesday.

Fin. Team Scores

1 California, U. of 285-296--581

2 UCLA 295-301--596

3 Stanford Univ. 302-297--599

4 Brigham Young Univ. 303-302--605

5 New Mexico, U. of 309-297--606

6 New Mexico State 303-306--609

7 Long Beach State 307-306--613

San Francisco, U. of 305-308--613

9 Oregon, U. of 302-314--616

10 UC -- Irvine 315-304--619

11 Texas Tech Univ. 310-310--620

12 Kansas, U. of 308-314--622

13 Texas A&M Univ. 313-311--624

14 San Diego State Univ. 308-318--626

15 Southern Illinois Univ. 327-302--629

16 Northern Arizona U. 317-313--630

17 Hawaii, Univ. of 326-319--645

Fin. BYU Players Score

T14 Jessica Gardner 76-74--150

T14 Margaret Gibby 74-76--150

T23 Natalie Newren 75-77--152

T26 Symantha Mendenhall 78-75--153

70 Danielle von Arnim 85-77--162