Utes Host PAC-12 Golf Championship at The Country Club

The Salt Lake Country Club will be the scene of the PAC-12 Golf Championship this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and while the University of Utah will be hosting the event it is not expected to be in contention for the title. The expected contenders are Stanford and Southern Cal with Arizona State and Arizona hoping to pull off a minor upset. Home course advantage will be helpful to the Utes, but finishing in the top half of the field would be considered a good showing.

Stanford is ranked fourth in the nation and is the defending PAC-12 champion, and Southern Cal is ranked fifth in the nation, just one slot below Stanford. Arizona State and California hold a 16th and 17th national ranking.

This conference championship will certainly feature some future PGA Tour stars and with good weather the event could attract a gallery of local fans.

Here is a rundown of the championship as written by the PAC-12 sports information bureau.

UTAH will serve as host of the 57th Annual Pac-12 Men’s Golf Championships at The Country Club in Salt Lake City, Utah, April 29-May 1. The Pac-12 is led by a pair of top 10 teams (Golfweek rankings) in No. 4 STANFORD, the defending Pac-12 Champion, and No. 5 USC. However, don’t sleep on No. 16 ARIZONA STATE, No. 17 CALIFORNIA, No. 26 OREGON or No. 27 WASHINGTON as they look to find their way into contention … According to Golfstat statistical rankings, only five NCAA golfers post an average score under 70, and three hail from the Pac-12 – No. 1 Maverick McNealy, Stanford (69.04), No. 2 Jon Rahm, Arizona State (69.43) and No. 5 Aaron Wise, Oregon (69.77). McNealy, the defending Pac-12 medalist will look to fend off Rahm, Wise and the rest of the field to in an attempt to become the first golfer to win back-to-back conference titles since Arizona State’s Paul Casey won three straight from 1998-2000.

No. 4 STANFORD – Five top-five finishes for the Cardinal during the 2015-16 season … Junior Maverick McNealy (Portola Valley, Calif.) (69.04 avg, No. 1) has led the way with four tournament victories, giving him 10 for his career (one shy of the Stanford record of 11 shared by Tiger Woods and Patrick Rodgers). His stroke average leads the nation. Last time out, McNealy set a Western Intercollegiate record with a 16-under 194, breaking the 54-hole tournament’s best mark by five strokes at Pasatiempo Golf Club … In 27 rounds, McNealy has posted a score in the 60s in 16 rounds. Average score for those 16 rounds was 66.6 … Senior David Boote (Surrey, England) (71.07 avg, No. 35) has seven Top 25 finishes this season.

No. 5 USC – The Trojans have collected three team titles and eight top-five finishes this season … Junior Rico Hoey (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) (70.37 avg, tied for No. 9), sophomore Sean Crocker (Westlake Village, Calif.) (71.67 avg) have paced the Trojans with a combined eight top-five finishes … Hoey has posted scores in thes 60s in 10 of 30 rounds this season … Senior Andrew Levitt (Ladera Ranch, Calif.) (72.30 avg) and Jonah Texeira (Porter Ranch, Calif.) (72.30 avg) have combined for eight top-10 finishes.

No. 16 ARIZONA STATE – The Sun Devils finished among top four in nine of 10 tournaments this season … Senior Jon Rahm (Barrika, Spain) (69.43 avg, No. 2), junior Jared du Toit (Kimberley, British Columbia) (71.33 avg) and senior Max Rotluff (Dusseldorf, Germany) (71.37 avg) will keep Arizona State in contention … Rahm has finished among the top ten in all 10 tournaments this season, including his third consecutive medalist honor at the ASU Thunderbird Invite. With that win, Rahm now has nine career victories (trails Phil Mickelson’s 16, 1998-92) … Out of 30 rounds this season, Rahm has posted a score in the 60s 16 times.

No. 17 CALIFORNIA – The Golden Bears have eight top-three finishes in 11 tournaments this season … Freshman Collin Morikawa (LaCanada Flintridge, Calif.) (71.03 avg, No. 30) and sophomore KK Limbhasut (Loma Linda, Calif.) (71.43 avg), have each posted six top-ten finishes … Morikawa’s scoring average is third best among all freshmen, trailing only Florida’s Sam Horsfield (70.33) and Vanderbilt’s Will Gordon (70.89) … California won the Pac-12 title in 2012 and 2013.

OREGON – The Ducks have posted seven top-five team finishes in 10 tournaments … Sophomore Aaron Wise (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) (69.77 avg, No. 5) has six top-three finishes, including wins at The Jackrabbit and the Amer Ari Invitational. He’s finished second in his last two tournaments … Wise finished second at the Western Intercollegiate with a 14-under 196 and would have set the tournment scoring record at the Pasatiempo Golf Club, yet lost by two strokes to Stanford’s McNealy … 15 of Wise’s 30 rounds were in the 60s … Wise finished second (8-under) at last year’s Pac-12 Championships … Senior Zach Foushee (West Linn, Ore.) (72.47 avg) and junior Sulman Raza (Eugene, Ore.) (72.48) lend depth to the Ducks. Raza took top honors at the AirstreamAdventures NW Classic in March.

WASHINGTON – The Huskies own a three team titles (Husky Invitational, Gifford Collegiate, RedHawk Invitational), along with three other top-four team finishes. Junior Corey Pereira (Cameron Park, Calif.) (71.44 avg, tied for No. 59) paces the Huskies with a pair of tournament victories and posted two other top-10 finishes. Senior Jonathan Sanders (Chatsworth, Calif.) (72.20 avg) and sophomore Frank Garber (Kirkland, Wash.) (72.37 avg) have combined for five top-10 finishes this season.

UCLA –  The Bruins have posted four top-five finishes this season. Senior Jonathan Garrick (Atherton, Calif.) (72.04 avg) has collected four top-ten finishes, including a victory at the Erin Hills Intercollegiate where he posted a score of 10-under … Garrick finished in a tie for third (4-under) at last year’s Pac-12 Championship … Freshman Cole Madey (West Linn, Ore.) (74.00 avg) posted back-to-back top-15 finishes at the Gifford Collegiate and the Amer Ari Invitational.

COLORADO – Six top five team finishes in 11 tournaments for the Buffaloes, including three of the last four. Junior Jeremy Paul (Viernheim, Germany) (7-.45 avg, No. 14) and senior Philip Juel-Berg (Vedbaek, Denmark) (71.87 avg, No. 99). Each have five top-ten finishes with Paul collecting a pair of wins and Juel-Berg posting one win … Paul has scored in the 60s in 15 of 31 rounds, including seven of the last eight rounds.

OREGON STATE – The Beavers have posted four top-three team finishes, including the last two tournaments … Juniors Kevin Murphy (Rogue River, Ore.) (73.13 avg) and Conner Kumpula (Albany, Ore.) (73.93 avg) lead the Beavers … Murphy is coming off the best finish of his career as he placed second at the Macero Classic.

WASHINGTON STATE – Four top-five finishes, including a victory at the Itani Quality Homes Collegiate … Sophomore Derek Bayley (Rathdrum, Idaho) (72.2 avg) owns a victory this season at the Itani Quality Homes Collegiate, tying the tournament record with a three-round score of 12-under (201). Bayley finished tied for 15th at last year’s Pac-12 Championships.

ARIZONA – Sophomore Jordan Gumberg (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (73.63 avg) and senior Kolton Lapa (Mesa, Ariz.) (74.25 avg) each have a pair of top 10 finishes this season. Gumberg tied for first at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic with a score of 11-under (214). It was the first win by a Wildcat since Tarquin MacManus in 2011 … Lapa is the lone senior on a squad that includes five freshmen and five sophomores.

UTAH – Three top-five team finishes this season … Seniors Jose Pelayo (Temecula, Calif.) (72.89 avg) and Brandon Kida (Layton, Utah) lead a veteran Ute squad that includes five seniors and two juniors … Kida had his career best finish in his last outing as he tied for third with a 9-under 207 at the Ping Cougar Classic.

Wolverines finish third, Dehlin fifth at WAC Championship

BLAINE, Wash. – By carding a final round 308 in wet conditions on Sunday, the Utah Valley University women's golf team finished its 2016 WAC Championship run in third place with a three-round total of 48-over-par 912 at the Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club in Blaine, Washington.
 
A total of three Wolverines posted top-10 finishes en route to earning the third-place team finish. Redshirt freshman Carly Dehlin paced the group by taking fifth overall with a three-round score of 6-over-par (222) after carding scores of 72, 75 and 75, while senior Kalea Heu and redshirt freshman Ana Raga each tied for 10th place at 11-over-par (227). Heu and Raga both tied for 10th after recording respective scores of 78, 75, 74 and 71, 78, 78 at the Championship.
 
Dehlin's 6-over 222 is not only the best three-round total of her collegiate career, but also ties her with former Wolverine great Lynn-Marie Nagel for the best three-round score in Utah Valley women's golf history.
 
As a team, Utah Valley's 48-over 912 also sets the school record for the lowest three-round total in program history.
 
Dehlin, who entered Sunday's final round tied for third on the individual leaderboard, carded five birdies during the final round — including three in her first four holes — to find herself right in the mix for the individual championship. The redshirt freshman from Draper, Utah, ended up finishing just five strokes shy of earning individual medalist honors and an automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals as New Mexico State's Kennedie Montoya pared her final three holes to seal the individual title. Dehlin, who earned Second Team All-WAC honors following the tournament, led Utah Valley by recording a total of 11 birdies at the championship event.
 
NMSU's Montoya helped lead New Mexico State to its third straight WAC Championship, as the Aggies won the tournament with a three-round total of 20-over-par 884. Montoya took home individual medalist honors after carding a 1-over 217 (74, 71, 72). Seattle U placed second at the tournament at 36-over (900), while UVU took third, UMKC fourth (920), UT Rio Grande Valley fifth (942), Chicago State sixth (961) and CSU Bakersfield seventh (974).
 
Behind Dehlin, Heu and Raga's top-10 finishes, junior Kimberly Nyhus was next for UVU by tying for 22nd place at 20-over par (76, 79, 81). Senior Cassandra Lesa capped Utah Valley's field of five by tying for 29th at her final collegiate event with a 28-over 244 (81, 79, 84).
 
 
The fifth-place finish by Dehlin and the third-place finish by the Wolverines mark both the highest individual and team finishes for UVU in program history in WAC Championship play.
 
The 2016 WAC Championship marks the conclusion of the 2015-16 season for the Wolverines.
 
First Team All-WAC
Cynthia Diaz, Missouri-Kansas City
Camille Orito, NM State
Viviana Macias, NM State
Alexus Song, Seattle U
Dorsey Addicks, Seattle U
 
Second Team All-WAC
Rachel Johnson, Chicago State
Deanna Salvatori, Grand Canyon
Kennedie Montoya, NM State
Valeria Macias, NM State
Kacey Dalpes, NM State
Carly Dehlin, Utah Valley
 
WAC Women's Coach of the Year: Jackie Booth, NM State
WAC Women's Freshman of the Year: Cynthia Diaz, UMKC
WAC Women's Player of the Year: Viviana Macias, NM State

View complete results HERE. 

Summerhays Finishes 13th at Valero Texas Open, Blair 25th

Daniel Summerhays turned in a sparkling 68 in the final round of the Valero Texas Open and finished in 13th place that carried a paycheck of over $100,000. In that final round he carded four birdies on the back nine and no bogeys.

Zac Blair also had a good final round of 69 and finished in 25th place and pocketed just shy of $50,000.

Tony Finau did not play in the event.

Charlie Hoffman won the title with a 12 under par score of 66-71-70-69-276.

Next stop on the PGA Tour is New Orleans.

BYU Women: Roberts and three players receive All-WCC honors​

PROVO, Utah — After one of the most successful seasons in program history and placing first at the West Coast Conference Championship, No. 36 BYU women's golf head coach Carrie Roberts and three players received All-WCC honors, Thursday.

Roberts was named WCC Coach of the Year as she helped lead the Cougars to a conference championship and four regular season tournament wins in the 2015-16 season. The four regular season wins tied for the most in program history. BYU women's golf also won a head-to-head match against Colorado State in February.

The WCC also named Rose Huang the Player of the Year and Co-Freshman of the Year. She was also named to the All-WCC first team along with teammates Lea Garner and Kendra Dalton.

In the 2015-16 season, Huang had four top-5 and six top-10 finishes. Her best finish was at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational where she took first place individually. Huang shot 5 under at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational, shooting a 69 in round two. 

At the WCC Championship Wednesday, Huang tied for second place with Garner. Huang and Garner both shot 3 over in the tournament.

This season Garner recorded two top-5 and top-10 finishes. Garner helped BYU women's golf to a first place finish at the BYU at Entrada Classic as she placed third, shooting 3 over.

Dalton's consistent play helped the Cougars record key wins in the fall season. She placed second at both the Rose City Intercollegiate as well as the Aggie Invitational. Dalton also placed in the top 10 at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational.

Huang, Garner and Dalton received first-team honors along with six other individuals: Marissa Chow (Pepperdine), Annie Freman (Santa Clara), Vanessa Ha (San Francisco), Ciera Min (Gonzaga), Hira Naveed (Pepperdine), Bianca Pagdanganan (Gonzaga) and Patricia Wong (Pepperdine).

BYU Men: Fishburn named to 2015-16 All-WCC First Team

PROVO, Utah — After consistently leading BYU men's golf during the 2015-16 season, Patrick Fishburn was named to the All-WCC Men's Golf First Team, Thursday.

In the 2015-16 season, the sophomore Fishburn had three top-5 and six top-10 finishes. His best finishes were at the Nick Watney Invitational and the PING Cougar Classic as he finished third in both events. Fishburn shot 11 under at the Nick Watney Invitational and 9 under at the PING Cougar Classic. 

At the WCC Championship Wednesday, Fishburn carded a total score of 211 (-5), shooting under par in two of the three rounds played. Fishburn finished fourth individually at the tournament.

The sophomore receives first-team honors along with nine other individuals: Alex Chiarella (San Diego), Perry Cohen (Saint Mary's), Seb Crookall-Nixon (San Francisco), Johnathan De Los Reyes (Saint Mary's), Michiel Eyre (Santa Clara), Hayden Shieh (Santa Clara), Sahith Theegala (Pepperdine), Sean Walsh (Gonzaga) and Frederick Wedel (Pepperdine).

Fishburn had a 71.41 average in his sophomore year. This is Fishburn's first All-WCC first team honor.

Jeff Smith Posthumously Named Big Sky Coach of the Year

By Jon Oglesby

Big Sky Conference Communications Director

OGDEN, Utah — Late Weber State golf coach Jeff Smith was not a fan of compliments, unless they were about someone else.

Smith didn't like to be praised; instead, he liked to praise others. Smith never asked for what others could do for him; instead, he famously asked what he could do for others. Humility was the trademark of a man who loved three things, in no particular order- life, golf and people.

Smith, who was popularly known as “Smitty” around the college golf circuit, passed away in mid-February, after battling leukemia. His passing left a hole in collegiate golf, not to mention the hearts of his many friends and coaching colleagues in the Big Sky Conference. Thousands of tributes from around the world poured in in the wake of Smith's passing, showcasing a legacy of kindness and caring. 

In response to his impact, the league's women's golf coaches unanimously voted Smith as the Big Sky Women's Golf Coach of the Year on Friday. Smith is the first Big Sky coach to win coach of the year honors, posthumously.

This is the third time Smith has been honored as the Big Sky Coach of the Year, previously winning the award after the 1998 and '99 seasons. Smith led the Wildcats to a Big Sky title in 2001, and recorded four runner-up appearances in the conference tournament. The Wildcats finished in the top-four of the Big Sky tourney 11 times in Smith's tenure.

While Smith would have certainly pushed away the praise and adulation associated with winning a Coach of the Year award, others were eager to praise a man who was as famous for supporting other Big Sky teams as he was for his own.

Weber State athletic director Jerry Bovee said the honors are fitting for a coach who dedicated his life to seeing others succeed.

“This is an amazing honor for Coach Smith and his family,” said Bovee, who considered Smith to be a close friend. “It reflects the sentiment of all who knew “Smitty” and is a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to young people.

“Jeff would have wanted to thank his fellow coaches and the Big Sky Conference for this honor. Also, as he was prone to do, he would have credited his players and friends of our program for their support.”

Smith's coaching colleagues were also quick to praise him, for a variety of reasons.

Northern Arizona coach Brad Bedortha said Smith played a large role in Big Sky golf, both on-and-off the golf course.

“'Smitty' was one of the best people I have ever known,” he said. “He always greeted you with a warm, welcoming smile, and truly loved being around the players and coaches. He set a great example for all of us coaches on how to treat people, and his attitude was infectious. (Jeff) lived an incredible life; it was an honor to be able to call him a friend.”

In spite of dealing with such an emotionally-draining personal loss, Smith's team honored their late coach on the course at the 2016 Big Sky Women's Golf Championships, shooting their lowest-ever round in tournament play (290) in the final round. Weber State finished fourth in the tournament, their best finish of an emotional spring.

Scott Erling, Weber State's men's golf coach, and Smith's assistant, former Weber State player Sara Federico, coached the Wildcats after Smith's passing, in a season that became about more than just playing golf.

Erling said the entire Weber State golf program takes pride in Smith earning Coach of the Year honors once again.

“Weber State golf is honored that long time coach Jeff Smith has been named the Big Sky Conference Women's Golf Coach of the Year,” he said. “'Smitty' epitomized everything that was good about collegiate athletics, and no coach cared more about his program and his players than Jeff Smith did. 'Smitty' will be missed, but will never be forgotten.”

Besides working as the coach of the Weber State women's golf program, Smith also served as the institution's Director of Golf, overseeing the men's golf program. He was a well-known supporter of the Weber State men's and women's basketball programs, and was a cheerleader for anyone who was associated with Weber State University.

Smith was a native of Ogden, Utah, and graduated from Weber State in 1980 with a degree in business administration. He worked as a golf professional at El Monte Golf Course and Golf City, in Ogden, before becoming the Weber State women's golf coach in 1990.

He was also involved with giving the gift of golf to a variety of different audiences, working as the Director of Golf for the Utah State Special Olympics. Smith also worked on a national level with the Special Olympics. 

A noted teacher of the game, Smith won the 1989 Utah PGA Teacher of the Year, and was a recipient of the 1996 PGA Junior Golf Leader Award.

Smith is survived by his two daughters, Tarra and Courtney.

UGA Fore-1-1: 4/22/2016

UGA Fore-1-1: 4/22/2016

By Kelsey Chugg

1. GHIN Mobile App

We want to sincerely apologize for the technical difficulties you may have experienced over the past week while using the GHIN Mobile App. The following is a statement from GHIN about the application:

The GHIN Mobile app is currently under construction and not available for use. Golfers trying to access the app will receive the following message depending on the device they are using:

iPhone = “No Membership Found”
Android = “No Network Connection”

Please do not be alarmed regarding your membership.

If you are currently in good standing with your club, there is no impact to your membership status. The USGA is working to restore functionality to the GHIN Mobile app as quickly as possible.In the interim, please use GHIN.com or the mobile version of the site for smartphones and tablets (https://m.ghin.com/) to record your scores.

We are still waiting for more information and a restoration timeline, and we will do our best to keep you informed.

2. Renewals

The tournament and league seasons are sneaking up on us; don’t forget to renew your membership! You can still renew online or by calling the UGA office at 801-563-0400. You will be able to keep your old GHIN number, but you will have to pay a $5 reinstatement fee. You can find out more about the membership calendar and structure HERE.

3. UGA Member Days

Have you checked out the 2016 UGA Member Days schedule? Member Days are non-competitive outings that give you the opportunity to play some of Utah’s best private clubs. You can even get some friends together and request to be paired in the same group. If you would like to participate in UGA Member Days, learn more and sign up on the UGA Member Days page!

4. Women’s Spring Open

Here is a quick recap of the Women’s Spring Open by UGA Programs Administrator, Megan Terry:

Kiselya Plewe and Gracie Richens, the youngest team in the field, played exceptionally well during the final round of the Women’s Spring Open at Coral Canyon Golf Course to earn the overall win and the championship title.

The duo brought in a second-round total of 85 gross Modified Stableford points, an impressive improvement following their first-round 64, and sealed the deal with a two-day gross total of 149 points, 25 points ahead of second place finishers Kareen Alton and Jodi White. 

Alton and White played consistent golf during both Monday’s first round at Green Spring Golf Course and the final round at Coral Canyon to give Plewe and Richens a run for their money and come out in second place in the First Flight with 65 round-one gross points and a two-day total of 124.

Teresa Lundahl and Christine Wahler made 76 net points in Round 1 and 98 points in Round 2 for a total of 174 points to win overall net by five points over Diane Booth and Sandy Kinser. 

5. Pac 12 Championships

The Country Club will host the 2016 Pac 12 Conference Championship April 29 – May 1. The UGA staff and volunteers will be out at the event helping with rules and pace of play. The event will be open to spectators, so we encourage you to come out and watch some great golf and to root on all of the players from Utah! If you can’t make it to the event, a one-hour special recapping of the event will debut on Sunday, May 8 at 10 a.m. PT/11 a.m. MT on Pac-12 Network.

6. Senior Match Play

The first senior championship of the year is almost here! The Utah Senior Match Play Championship will be held at Sleepy Ridge Golf Course May 9 – 12 and is open to golfers older than 50. The registration deadline is May 2nd at 4:00 P.M.. You can learn more and register by clicking HERE.

7. Tournaments

The USGA recently opened up the US Open and US Women’s Open qualifying applications. You can read more and apply to play HERE.

There are many upcoming tournaments throughout the state that are open to golfers of all skill levels. If you are interested in learning more about local events, you can visit the Men’s Public Schedule or the Women’s Public Schedule.

SUU’s Taylor Viquelia Named Big Sky Player of the Year

By Ryan Miller

The Spectrum

BOULDER CITY, Nevada — Taylor Viquelia didn’t leave the Big Sky Women’s Golf Championships with the prize she intended to get, but she didn’t leave empty handed either.

After finishing second in the tournament the last two season, Viquelia was hoping this was her year. And it was — in a sense.

Some putting troubles kept her from challenging for the win on Wednesday in Boulder City, Nevada, but the conference coaches didn’t hold a few missed putts against her, honoring the Southern Utah junior’s season by naming her the Big Sky Player of the Year.

“This means a lot,” Viquelia said. “This is the best I’ve played since I started golfing in college. I’m just happy with the way I’ve been playing.”

And, despite not walking away victorious (she finished tied for fifth), she was happy with how she played in the final round on Wednesday. Viquelia entered the last day just three strokes behind the leader and quickly cut into that deficit. After a birdie on the third hole, she moved into red numbers at 1-under and was just one stroke back of the lead.

But she could never get closer.

Though she struck the ball well, though she hit every fairway, though she had a birdie putt on 17 of the 18 holes, Viquelia never made another move up the leader board. Through the first 15 holes she had 14 pars and one birdie.

“I was hitting greens,” Viquelia said. “I either had the wrong line or I’d leave it short. So it was pretty rough. I was just disappointed in my putting. I had a really good chip on one of the par 5s, and didn’t make that putt either — so putting is definitely what I’ll be working on. Everything else is fine.”

The putting wasn’t all that bad, either. She rarely left herself with a difficult par putt and didn’t have a three putt until the 16th hole — where she got her first bogey of the day.

It was that bogey that eliminated her from title contention. It dropped her to even par with just two holes remaining and Eastern Washington’s Marissa Borja had already finished the day at 4 under. Before that bogey, however, there was a sense that she could make a move, because she was near flawless everywhere but on the green.

“She hits a lot of fairways, lots of greens, she has any number of different shots,” SUU coach Richard Church said. “She’d like to convert more birdies, she putts well, just didn’t get many to drop this week. It’s fun to have a player on your squad that always has a chance to win. Since I’ve been involved in SUU golf, this is the best overall season, as far as finishes go, that a player has ever had.”

And that’s why the conference coaches rewarded her with the player of the year award, even though she didn’t walk away as champion.

Idaho’s Sophie Hausmann won a playoff against Borja to earn the individual title, and her performance helped the Vandals to the team title finishing the tournament at 4 over par to beat Sacramento State by one stroke.

The T-Birds finished the tournament at 26 over par to earn a sixth place finish.

“We had a solid day,” Church said. “The women on the team will tell you they didn’t play today as well as they’d like to, but we had three rounds in the 290s and that’s pretty solid golf. This has been a great team to travel with — one of, if not my most favorite team I’ve ever coached. They all get along, they are fun to be around and they are really hard workers.”

Along with earning the player of the year award, Viquelia was also named to the all-conference first team as well as to the all-tournament team.

And her season might not be done. Church is hoping that she will get an at-large bid to an NCAA regional.

“Coming into the week, Taylor was ranked at a level that would put her right on the bubble,” Church said. “And I think her national ranking is not nearly as high as it should be. She’s had a great year.”

Cougars End Pepperdine’s 14-Year Conference Winning Streak

By Joe Watts

For the first time in 15 years, the Pepperdine women’s golf team is going home without the conference trophy. Yes, it’s true, Pepperdine women won the conference golf championship for 14 consecutive years. This year that remarkable streak came to an end, and instead, BYU went home with its first West Coast Conference championship. The Cougars shot 884 and edged Gonzaga by three shots, and Pepperdine finished in third place. There were only five teams in the women’s tournament.

Individual medalist honor was won by Ciera Min of Gonzaga with a final round of 66 that gave her a three-shot victory over four players, including two from BYU, Rose Huang and Lea Garner. Huang shot three straight 73's. Garner shot 70 and 72 and closed with a 77.

Other Cougars on the championship winning team were Kendra Dalton, Alex White, and Brooklyn Hocker.

The tournament was held at Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, California.

View complete TEAM results HERE. 

View complete PLAYER results HERE.

Dixie Women Finish Fifth in Conference Meet

The Dixie State women’s golf team finished in fifth place in the PacWest Conference championship held at the Wigwam in Arizona. Cal Baptist won the title with a 608 total and Dixie shot 675.

Cobair Collinsworth led Dixie with scores of 85-80-165. Others on the team were Hannah Folks, 84-83-167; Shelby Madden, 83-85-168; Sarah Folks, 89-86-175; and Madalynne Fedouk, 90-90-180.

Complete results of the event can be seen HERE.