BYU golf duo wins Utah Women's Four-Ball Championship

In (college) tournaments you play more individually. We started helping each other more (as the tournament went along). – Lea Garner

SALT LAKE CITY — They are teammates on the BYU golf team, but for two days Lea Garner and Kendra Dalton relied just on each other as they competed in the Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship.

After putting together a 65 in Wednesday’s first round at Glendale Golf Course, they duplicated their score with a 65 at Rose Park Golf Course and won by four shots over the mother-daughter team of Sue and Kimberly Nyhus.

For Garner and Dalton, who never had a bogey in 36 holes, it was a fairly new experience playing in a best ball event, but one that they both enjoyed.

“It was fun,’’ said Dalton. “Ninety-nine percent of the time you’re playing by yourself, you’re on your own.’’

“In (college) tournaments you play more individually,’’ said Garner. “We started helping each other more (as the tournament went along).’’

Garner, who just completed her junior season at BYU, grew up in Utah, competing for Bonneville High School, where she was part of two state championship teams and won the individual title in 2012.

The 19-year-old Dalton just finished her freshman year at BYU after coming from North Carolina.

Garner and Dalton went into the second round paired with Jodi White and Kareen Alton, who had also shot a first-round 65. So they were able to keep their eye on them as they watched their lead increase all morning. They were up by a couple of strokes at the turn and White and Alton finished six shots behind with a second-day 71.

“We didn’t worry about it — we just tried to make some birdies,’’ said Dalton.

And eagles.

Dalton rolled in a 25-foot eagle on the par-5 12th hole to give the duo some breathing room. On the final hole, Garner’s third shot hit the pin, giving the pair a final birdie.

The team of Nan Mendenhall-Valerie Green won the First Flight with a 144 total, while Jackie Brophy-Vickie Lindquist tied with Denise Vilven-Judy Allem in Second Flight with a 157 total. Linda McBride and Brenda Paris were the Third Flight winners at 173.

UGA WOMEN'S FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Championship Flight

130 – Lea Garner-Kendra Dalton (65-65)

134 – Sue Nyhus-Kimberly Nyhus (67-67)

136 – Annette Gaiotti-Beatrice Peck (68-68), Jodi White-Kareen Alton (65-71)

First Flight

144 – Nan Mendenhall-Valerie Green (70-74)

151 – Jane Hughes-Brenda Blackham (74-77), Patricia Smith-Cheryle Mason (74-77)

Second Flight

157 – Jackie Brophy-Vickie Lindquist (77-80), Denise Vilven-Judy Allem (77-80)

158 – Linda Berry-Joan Young (77-81)

159 – Sandy Leonard-Eileen Rich (75-84)