Lehi » Sue Nyhus' golf pedigree speak for itself. So, when she speaks, her Brigham Young golfers listen.

Not that Nyhus welds a heavy hand when it comes to offering helpful golf teaching techniques.

"It can be intimidating," said Jenteal Jackson, a BYU sophomore and a four-year varsity athlete in basketball and golf at Skyline High in Salt Lake City. "Once you're on the team, you realize what a great lady she is."

By the very nature of the sport, the relationship between coach and team is different than that of other sports. In golf, the coach can compete with and, at times, beat the athlete, which leaves room for bonding and establishing credibility.

During the recent Utah Women's State Amateur Golf Tournament at Thanksgiving Point, Nyhus competed against five Cougars -- as well as two young Nyhus daughters.

Nyhus, a two-time champion, was bested by incoming BYU freshman Annika Afoa, who placed third in the championship fight. Afoa graduated from Murray High School in the spring.

Jackson, Amanda Keith, Staisha Stratton and transfer Emily Copier also competed, with Keith two shots better than her coach.

A former Cougar -- and three-time State Am champion -- Lachell Poffenberger came in fourth.

"It's bonding, sure," Nyhus said. "I know exactly how they're feeling. I'm feeling it, too. They know I know golf isn't easy. I have empathy for what they are doing. They know I know something when I talk to them."

Now in her ninth season as coach, Nyhus brings players BYU credibility as well as golf knowledge. In 1985, Nyhus was named to the first-ever academic All-American team for women's golf.

The same season at the NCAA Tournament, the Cougars managed to finish in 14th place.

"It's fun," said Jackson, who also plays basketball for BYU. "It's awesome she can walk the walk like that. You know she's pretty credible."

No doubt. In 1999, the Utah Golf Association saw fit to name Nyhus the first female Player Of the Year. Nyhus was also named Female Golfer of the Decade.

"It does help," Nyhus said. "Not so much about having certain ways to do things, but to consider this, or this, or other things. They know there are other ways to do things."

Nyhus won the amateur twice, in 1985 and 1999. This year, she couldn't cash in on a competitive first round, finishing back in the pack.

Afoa's BYU family history and her affinity for Nyhus were enough to make Afoa a Cougar.

"She's a great coach," said Afoa, whose aunt was a BYU athlete. "She's a great teacher. She always has such a great attitude."

With high school girls growing more interested in golf, competing in the same tournaments also aids in recruiting.

"Sure it helps," Nyhus said. "I can see how they play. I just played the course they played."

You would not hear coaches from other sports making the same comparisons. There are coaches, though, who try to compete during "friendly" competitions.

"Our basketball coaches, well, we don't play at full speed," Jackson said. "We want to keep them safe."

martyr@sltrib.com