BYU women’s golf wrapped up at the Route 66 Invitational on Oct. 14, finishing with a strong 10th-place team finish at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Broken Arrow, Okla.
The Cougars steadily improved each day of competition, closing out the tournament with their best performance in the final round.
Sophomore Kanyanol “Naji” Aramkul led the way for the Cougars, earning a top-10 individual finish after three consistent rounds. Aramkul shot 72-72-70–214, finishing tied for seventh place and securing the second top-10 placement of her BYU career.
Aramkul’s final round included three birdies and marked her best score of the tournament. The Thailand native has become one of BYU’s most dependable players this fall, showing steady improvement and confidence even on challenging courses.
Coach Carrie Roberts said she was proud of her team’s ability to stay focused and composed through challenging conditions.
“The girls were able to perform better by controlling their focus and reactions better,” Roberts said. “They stayed within what they could control and managed themselves much better.”
BYU posted team rounds of 300, 305 and 290 for a total of 895. The Cougars’ six-over-par final round on Tuesday was their best of the event and helped them move up the leaderboard to finish inside the top 10.
Freshman Maria Jose “MJ” Barragan finished with an even-par final round, making it her best round of the tournament. Barragan tied for 34th place overall with a three-round total of 223. The newcomer from Mexico continued to show her potential as one of the team’s rising contributors this season.
Ava Schroeder, a sophomore, also finished the event on a high note. She carded a two-over-par in her final round to end at 226, tying for 48th place. Schroeder’s steady play throughout the fall has given the Cougars depth and reliability in the middle of their lineup.
Senior Lily McCauley shot a 77 on Tuesday to finish at 227, tying for 53rd place. McCauley has been a consistent presence for BYU and continues to provide leadership and experience to a relatively young roster.
Juniors Whitney Banz and Lilly DeNunzio both stepped up in the final round, each shooting 2-over-par to finish at 228 and tied for 57th place. Their final performances helped BYU secure its best overall team score of the tournament.
The Cougars’ improved play on Tuesday reflected their growing confidence and focus as a group. After two challenging opening rounds, BYU responded with resilience, showing what Roberts described as better composure and course management.
Aramkul’s top 10 finish also marked another highlight in what has been a breakout stretch for the sophomore. Her steady scores and ability to perform under pressure have helped anchor BYU’s lineup throughout the fall.
BYU’s strong finish at the Route 66 Invitational gives the Cougars momentum as they prepare for their final tournament of the fall season. The team will travel next to Lihue, Hawaii for the Rainbow Wahine Invitational held Oct. 20–22 at Hokuala Golf Club.
With Aramkul leading the charge and the rest of the roster showing steady growth, BYU looks to close out its fall campaign on a high note before heading into winter training and the spring season.