LAYTON — Most of the top contenders at the Women's State Amateur were more disappointed than relieved that two-time defending champion Annie Thurman chose to play in the Utah Open this week.

They wanted a shot at her, and judging by the first-round scores at the 98th annual event, Thurman would have been in for a tough challenge this week.

Five golfers broke par in Monday's first round at Valley View Golf Course, led by Margaret Gibby's 6-under par 68. Last year, Thurman could only manage a 1-under par total in her first round.

Gibby, a Phoenix native who will be a senior at BYU this fall, leads Weber State golfer Lynsey Myers by two shots and another Cougar golfer, 2001 champ Natalie Newren, by four. BYU golf coach and two-time State Am champ Sue Nyhus is another stroke back at 73 along with 2000 champion Tenille Howe-Slack.

For Gibby, this is her first try at the Women's Amateur despite playing three years at BYU. Usually she goes south and works in the summer. So why did she decide to stick around this summer?

Because of a class she needed to take and, well, there was this "boy." You see, Gibby got engaged this summer and plans to get married in December. She's happy she has the chance to compete in the State Amateur for once.

"I really had fun out there today," Gibby said. "Whenever I hit a bad shot, I didn't get upset about it."

Actually she didn't hit many bad shots at all in her 6-under round.

She hit 16 greens in regulation and the two times she didn't, she was able to get up and down for par.

Gibby was hitting the ball close all day and said most of her eight birdies were from less than five feet away. Her best shot of the day was a wedge shot from 72 yards to gimme range at the final hole.

Myers, a native of Beaver, thought she had the lead after her 70, a score that would have led most of the past Women's Ams, but she wasn't complaining.

"I didn't putt well, but I struck the ball well today," Myers said.

"This is one of the biggest tournaments, and it would be nice to win."

The highlight of her round was a 75-foot eagle putt at the par-5 17th hole.

Howe-Slack, who is a former Weber State golfer, feels she has room for improvement after her 1-under round.

"I was just consistent today, nothing fancy," she said of her four-birdie, three-bogey round.

Others still in contention in the First Flight include three-time champion Lachell Poffenberger at 74 and Julie McMullin and Nicole Newren-Chandler at 76.

Four-time winner Terry Hansen leads the Second Flight at 76, and she has a chance to win the title. So does Third Flight leader Valerie Green, who shot 77 and leads by five shots.

Rebecca Steel leads Fourth Flight at 83, while Sally Millbank is the Fifth Flight leader at 86. Other flight leaders are Karen Bruin (91) in Sixth Flight, Kellie Southwick (93) in Seventh Flight and Connie Fraser and Melissa Melcher (101) in Eighth Flight.

This year, flight winners will be determined by gross scores only.

Second-round action begins at 7 a.m. today with the final round being played Wednesday morning.

---

E-mail: sor@desnews.com