Barnett Jumps 10 Spots on Leaderboard during Final Day of PLU Invitational

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LAKE SPANAWAY, Wash. -- Maddi Barnett (Sr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) from Willamette University advanced 10 spots up the leaderboard on the final day of the PLU Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 17, as she moved from an eight-way tie for 22nd place into a five-way tie for 12th at the Lake Spanaway Golf Course. Barnett improved from an 85 in the first round on Saturday to a 79 in the second round on Sunday. Barnett's 79 tied for the seventh-best score of the second round. She finished at 164 overall.

"Maddi played a great round of golf today, consistent as usual, but her short game and course management were what led her to a sub-80 round," Willamette Assistant Coach Ryan Melnychuk said.

Medalist Shiyang Fan from Whitman College recorded the top 18-hole score of the tournament with a 70 in the first round. Fan also had the low score in the second round with a 73. She won the individual title by eight strokes a 1-under-par 143. Ally Collier, also from Whitman, took second place at 151 (76-75). Madi Brown from North Idaho College, who shot 77-80, and Briana Finau from Pacific University, who carded 79-78, tied for third place at 157. Shelby Baum from Community Colleges of Spokane was fifth at 158 (83-75).

Phoebe Nguyen of Whitman and Katie Ochoa from Whitworth were deadlocked for sixth place at 159. Nguyen recorded 77-82, while Ochoa shot 80-79. Two golfers from Whitman and Whitworth also tied for eighth at 161, with Kacy Godwin carding 76-85 for the Blues and Amy Wagner achieving 81-80 for Whitworth.

Tenth place also involved a tie, as Katie Hilliard from Community Colleges of Spokane and Allie Slingsby of Whitworth each shot 163. Hilliard's scores were 79 and 84. Slingsby opened with an 85 and followed up with a 78.

Barnett was tied for 12th with Mikal Jerman of North Idaho (83-81), Madison LaVergne from Pacific Lutheran University (80-84), Maggie Peters of Whitworth (83-81) and Madeline Rice from Linfield (87-77). A total of 52 golfers competed in the tournament.

"I was really proud of the way everybody played today," Melnychuk commented. "They took the good and bad from the first round and everyone improved. The course played really similar to yesterday, but it was nice to get out on some fresh greens in the morning. Everyone putted well and took advantage of the conditions."

Lexi Towner (So., Chico, CA/Chico HS) of Willamette shot a 93 in the first round and reduced her score by seven strokes to an 86 in the second round. She finished at 179. Also competing for the Bearcats was Camy Pickworth (Fr., Columbus, OH/Columbus School for Girls), who shot 197 (99-98).

"Lexi made some huge improvements from round one. I'm always impressed with her competitive attitude and today she put up a solid number," Melnychuk said. "Camy had one goal today, and it was to improve on her first round. She was really patient and achieved that by one shot. She was impressive all week off the tee, and we are excited for her to keep competing."

The team championship was won by Whitman with a 36-hole score of 614 (299-315). Whitworth took second place at 655 (332-323) and North Idaho followed in third, one stroke behind the Pirates at 656 (326-330). Community College of Spokane was fourth at 662 (332-330).

Pacific Lutheran placed fifth with a score of 682 (336-346), while University of Puget Sound was sixth at 698 (356-342). Lewis & Clark College was seventh at 699 (345-354), with Pacific in eighth at 718 (356-362). Linfield and Willamette did not enter complete teams.