Sra Ties for Fifth, Willamette Finishes Fourth, at NWC Tournament

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

WOODBURN, ORE. -- Taneesh Kaur Sra (Fr., Fremont, CA/Mission San Jose HS) shot a 79 in the second round of the Northwest Conference Championship Tournament in women's golf on Saturday, April 20 at the Oregon Golf Association (OGA) Golf Course to finish in a tie for fifth place with a 36-hole score of 162. She was named Second Team All-NWC.

Sra helped Willamette take fourth place in the team standings at the Championship Tournament with a score of 677.

The Bearcats tied for third place in the overall NWC team standings, which included the Fall Classic, Spring Classic and Championship Tournament.

George Fox University won the team title at the Championship Tournament and also earned the overall NWC title. GFU finished in first place during all three championship events.

The Bruins took first place this weekend with a score of 638 (321-317) to win by 24 strokes. Whitman College was second at 662 (342-320), with Whitworth University in third place at 673 (335-338). Willamette was fourth with a score of 677 (344-333). The Bearcats missed catching Whitworth by four strokes after gaining five strokes on the Pirates in the second round.

Pacific Lutheran University finished in fifth place at 724 (364-360), while Pacific University was sixth at 763 (390-373). Linfield placed seventh at 816 (418-398) and the University of Puget Sound was eighth at 837 (428-409).

George Fox was led by Kelsey Morrison, who won the individual title at the Championship Tournament with a score of 152. She shot 75-77 to attain first place by eight strokes. Morrison, who won the NWC Fall Classic and took second at the NWC Spring Classic, was named NWC Player of the Year.

Emily Guthrie of Whitworth, who took first place at last year's NWC Championship Tournament and also claimed the title in 2010, was second this year with a score of 160 (79-81).

Kiana Lumanlan and Abby Main, both from GFU, tied for third place at 161. Lumanlan carded 81-80, while Main shot 83-78. Sra of Willamette and Katie Zajicek of Whitman each earned part of fifth place at 162. Sra shot an 83 in the first round and improved to 79 in the second round. Zajicek also improved, shooting 85 on Saturday and 77 on Sunday.

Chelsea Bayley from Whitworth took seventh place with a score of 164 (87-77). Whitney Jammerman of GFU shot 165 (82-83) and Nicole Lomax of Whitworth also shot 165 (80-85) to tie for eighth place. Tenth place was tie between Kelly Sweeney (88-78) and Catelyn Webber (85-81), both from Whitman, with overall scores of 166.

Sra was one of three Willamette women's golfers who lowered their scores on the second day. LettaJoe Gallup (So., Alameda, CA/Holy Names HS) shot 167 overall by improving from an 86 in the first round to an 81 in the second round. Elise Levy (Fr., Reno, NV/Bishop Monague HS) lowered her score from an 87 to an 81.

Mele Ana Kastner (So., Vancouver, WA/Columbia River HS) of Willamette carded a 180 (88-92) during the tournament. Mckenzie Weinhold from Willamette shot 183 (90-93).

First Team All-Conference honors went to Kelsey Morrison of GFU, Abby Mann of GFU, Emily Guthrie of Whitworth, Kiana Lumanlan of GFU, Chelsea Bayley of Whitworth and Kelly Sweeney from Whitman. George Fox Head Coach MaryJo McCloskey was chosen NWC Coach of the Year.

Second Team All-NWC recognition was earned by Whitney Jammerman of GFU, Katie Zajicek from Whitman, Catelyn Webber from Whitman, Taneesh Kaur Sra from Willamette, Loreece Magsanide of GFU and Nicole Lomax of Whitworth.

In the final NWC championship standings, George Fox took first place with 32 points from the three events. The NWC Fall Classic (8 points) and the NWC Spring Classic (8 points) each counted as one-fourth of the title, while the NWC Championship Tournament (16 points) was worth one-half of the total.

GFU was followed in the final standings by Whitman in second with 28 points. Whitworth and Willamette tied for third place with 21 points, and Pacific Lutheran was fifth with 15 points. Pacific was sixth with 13 points, while Linfield placed seventh with 10 points and Puget Sound was eighth with 4 points.