Bearcat Women's Golfers to Defend Willamette Cup Title this Weekend

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University will be looking to defend its team title at this weekend's Willamette Cup, which will be hosted by Pacific University at Quail Valley Golf Course in Banks, Ore. The Bearcats will take on Pacific as well as Linfield College, with one round of 18 holes slated for Saturday, Feb. 28.

During last year's Willamette Cup at the Oregon Golf Association Golf Course, the Bearcats earned first place with a score of 354. Pacific took second place at 460. Linfield did not field a complete team, but did have three individual competitors.

Taneesh Sra (Jr., Fremont, CA/Mission San Jose HS) of Willamette won the individual title with a score of 82 over a total of 18 holes. Maggie Harlow of Linfield finished second at 85 and LettaJoe Gallup (Jr., Alameda, CA/Holy Names HS) of Willamette was third at 86.

Sra and Gallup should be strong entrants for the Bearcats this weekend. Gallup was WU's top finisher at two of the team's three meets in the fall, including a seventh place finish at the Pacific Fall Opener at Quail Valley. Sra recorded the Bearcats' low score at the NWC Fall Classic, where she tied for eighth.

During the 2013-14 season, Sra earned Second Team All-NWC honors for the second consecutive season.

After placing second at the Willamette Cup in 2014, Harlow of Linfield was the Wildcats' low scorer at the NWC Fall Classic this past October. Madeleine Ottosson (Sr.) of Pacific did not compete at the Willamette Cup last spring, but was the Boxers' top finisher at the NWC Fall Classic.

Following this weekend's tournament, the Bearcats will next participate in the Pioneer Invitational on March 14-15. Lewis & Clark College will host the event at Heron Lakes Golf Club in Portland, Ore., with the women's competition scheduled for the Greenback Course.