News

UVU WGolf: Dehlin Cards 72, UVU Takes Sixth at Bobcat Desert Invite

By: James Warnick, UVU Asst Sports Information Director

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – In its final tune-up before next week's WAC Championship, the Utah Valley University women's golf team posted a sixth-place finish at the 14-team Montana State Bobcat Desert Invitational on Monday and Tuesday at the Golf Club of Estrella in Goodyear, Arizona. The Wolverines moved up two spots on the leaderboard during Tuesday's final round to finish in sixth after carding a 12-over-par 300.
 
The final-round 300 matches the fifth-best team score in program history, as the Wolverines finished the 54-hole event at 60-over-par (924). UVU also carded scores of 306 and 318 on Monday en route to posting the strong finish at its final tournament of the 2016-17 regular season. The 924 also matches Utah Valley's sixth-best 54-hole total in school history.
 
“I'm proud of the girls for the way that they competed here at the Bobcat Desert Invitational. It was a gutsy performance by each and every one of them,” said head coach Dr. Sue Nyhus. “Hopefully this will momentum will carry over for us to next week's WAC Championship.” 
 
Sophomore Carly Dehlin led the way individually for the Wolverines by tying to 14th place at 9-over-par (225). After carding scores of 74 and 79 on Monday, Dehlin responded by matching her career-low with an even-par 72 on Tuesday. The Draper, Utah native recorded a trio of birdies and 12 pars on Tuesday en route moving up nine places on the individual leaderboard. The 9-over 225 ties for the sixth-best 54-hole score in UVU women's golf history.
 
Fellow sophomore Ana Raga was next for Utah Valley by tying for 18th place at 11-over-par (227). Raga recorded scores of 74, 78 and 75 on the way to posting the top-20 finish.
 
Freshman Justine Lauer followed Raga by tying for 42nd place at 23-over-par (239). Lauer put up scores of 76, 78 and 85 at the two-day event. Senior Kimberly Nyhus and redshirt freshman Kaylee Shimizu rounded out UVU's field of five at the tournament by placing 56th and 57th, respectively. After carding scores of 82 and 87 on Monday, Nyhus responded by matching her low round of her senior campaign with a 75 on Tuesday to post a 244. After recording 84 and 83 on Monday, Shimizu too played well during Tuesday's final round by shooting a 78 (245).
 
With the sixth-place finish, the Wolverines finished the event ahead of fellow WAC opponent CSU Bakersfield (7th), in-state rival Weber State (10th), and Big Sky foes Montana State (8th), North Dakota (12th) and Idaho State (14th). The sixth-place finish also marks UVU's highest finish of the season.
 
Cal Poly won the event at 14-over-par (291-290-297—878), while Portland State took second at 29-over (299-300-294—893) and Southern Utah third at 42-over (303-315-288—906). Cal Poly's Sophie Bergland took home individual medalist honors at 4-under-par (70-72-70—212).
 
The Wolverines will now return home to prepare for the 2017 WAC Women's Golf Championship that will run April 19-21 at Indian Hill Country Club in Mission Hills, Kansas. Last season, the Wolverines placed third at the conference tournament with a three-round school record tally of 912.