BYU women's golf started off the Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Lihue, Hawaii, on Monday with a steady first round shooting a 4-over 292.
The Cougars showed balance across the lineup in round one and finished the day within reach of a top ten position heading into Tuesday's second round.
Junior Maria Jose "MJ" Barragan led the way for BYU, carding a 2-under-par 70 and tying for 12th place. Barragan made three birdies and one bogey. Her score of 70 was the lowest for the Cougars and continues her strong collegiate golf career.
Sophomore Ava Schroeder also had an impressive first round. Schroeder recorded her first sub-par 18-hole round in her BYU career. Schroeder's game helped her end the round tied for 17th place. Her score contributed to BYU's low team total and marked a personal milestone in her career.
Senior Lily McCauley ended the round tied for 57th place with 3-over par. McCauley led the Cougars in birdies with four, showing her ability to score even on difficult courses.
Sophomore Kanyanol "Naji" Aramkul shot a 4-over par round and landed in a tie for 70th place. Aramkul entered the week coming off a top-10 finish at the Route 66 Invitational in Oklahoma.
Though Monday’s round was a few strokes higher, her consistency this season has been a strength for the Cougars.
Junior Whitney Banz ended the round with a 6-over par, ending tied for 87th. Banz has been part of BYU’s rotation throughout the fall and continues to gain competitive experience.
The Cougars improved in several areas compared to previous tournaments and they will look to build on that progress in round two.
The Rainbow Wahine Invitational marks BYU’s final tournament of the fall season. The Cougars have shown steady improvement throughout the semester, highlighted by a 10th-place team finish at the Route 66 Invitational last week and multiple individual rounds near or under par.
The team will tee off on Tuesday for round two before closing out the event on Wednesday.
With Barragan leading the lineup and Schroeder, McCauley, and Aramkul close behind, BYU will aim to climb the leaderboard and finish its fall season on a strong note.