Bearcats Take Eighth Place at NWC Women's Fall Classic

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

PORTLAND, ORE. -- The Bearcats of Willamette University placed eighth at the Northwest Conference Women's Fall Classic, hosted by Lewis & Clark College at the Heron Lakes Golf Course on Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18. Willamette finished with a score of 818 (411-407).

WU's Alex Johnson (So., Salem, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) was 15th in the individual standings with a 36-hole score of 173 (87-86). Haylee Chung (Fr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS), also from Willamette, tied with two other golfers for 18th place at 176 (90-86). Also competing for Willamette were Serena Cualoping (Fr., Manila, The Philippines/International School) and Tanya Schiller (Sr., South Bend, OR/South Bend HS).

George Fox won the team title with a score of 651 (342-309), as the Bruins prevailed by 12 strokes. Whitworth University placed second at 663 (334-329). Linfield College was third at 681 (348-333). The University of Puget Sound (355-353) and Whitman College (357-351) tied for fourth place at 708. Pacific University was sixth at 741 (381-360), Pacific Lutheran was seventh at 772 (3950-377), Willamette was eighth at 818 (411-407) and Lewis & Clark was ninth at 855 (425-430).

Emily Guthrie of Whitworth shot a two-day total of 157 (80-77) to win the tournament by three shots. Jill Westendorf of GFU, who trailed Guthrie by eight strokes after carding an 88 on the first day, improved to 80 in the second round to finish in second place at 160. Third place was a tie between Sarah Askin of GFU (82-83) and Brianna Nap of GFU (87-78). Four golfers tied for fifth.

Westendorf's 72 on Sunday was the low round of the tournament. The low round on Saturday, when the competitors faced rain and wind, was a score of 80 by Guthrie.

The Northwest Conference Fall Classic counts toward one-fourth of the overall NWC championship. The NWC Spring Classic will count for another quarter, with the NWC Championship tournament providing the final half.

The Bearcats have completed the fall portion of their schedule. Willamette will be back in action during the spring.