Cougars Ride the Wave and Lead After 18

BYU has four out of five players in the top 5

Rachel Newren
Women's Golf Home HEADLINES MWC Announces Women's Golfer of the Month MWC Announces Women's Golfer of the Month Ten MWC Women's Golfers Named All-American Scholar Recipients RELATED LINKS • Follow all of the college golf action at CollegeSports.com • Email this to a friend

April 20, 2007

St. George, Utah - The No. 15 BYU women's golf team started where they left off after the Dixie Classic, by leading the field with a 10-over-par 294 at the Mountain West Conference Championships in St. George, Utah.

"It was a solid first round for us," said head coach Sue Nyhus, " The team played with poise and patience under some early difficult scoring conditions."

The Cougars proved they feel comfortable at Entrada at Snow Canyon; BYU has four out of five players in the top 5, just one shot separating each Cougar. All-American Rachel Newren is tied with TCU's Catherine Matranga for the lead at one-over-par 71. Junior Juli Erekson sits in third with a two-over-par 73, senior Danielle von Arnim in fourth with a three-over-par 74 and freshman Daphne Vines in fifth with a four-over-par 75. Sophomore Natalia Jimenez is close behind with a seven-under-par 78 and tied for 15th.

The only other team that had all five players in the 70's was TCU who with a 16-over-par 300 sits in second place. Seventeenth-ranked New Mexico is third with a 30-over-par 314.

"It's really satisfying to know that you have a solid team backing you up when you have an off day," said Jimenez, "The wind will challenge us tomorrow, we need to be focused, patient and adjust as the course changes. That's what will make a difference."

The Cougars will tee off tomorrow morning starting at 11:10 am MST. Follow the action live on golfstat.com.