Bearcats Place Fifth, as Barnett Finishes Ninth and Towner is 16th

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

RICHLAND, Wash. -- Maddi Barnett (Sr., Boise, IDTimberline HS) placed ninth and Lexi Towner (So., Chico, CAChico HS) was 16th as the Sunshine Invitational concluded on Sunday March 11 at the Columbia Point Golf Club. Willamette finished fifth in the team standings. The first round of the tournament was shortened on Saturday due to weather conditions in the morning, as only a portion of the field completed 18 holes. Even so, all  of the golfers entered in the tournament were able to complete 36 holes by Sunday evening.

Shiyang Fan of Whitman College won the individual title with a score of 4-under-par 140 (72-68). Her 68 in the second round was the low round of the tournament. Phoebe Nguyen from Whitman was second at 156 (79-77) and Hannah Roh, also from Whitman, was third at 159 (81-78). Jane Almeida of Lewis & Clark College and Sami Briney from Pacific Lutheran University tied for fourth place at 160. Almeida carded 83-77, while Briney shot 76-84.

Emma Beyer from Whitman was sixth at 161 (81-80) and Jaymie Pentony of Whitworth placed seventh at 153 (83-80). Cheyenne Marchand from Whitworth took eighth at 166 (86-80). Barnett completed the 36 holes just one stroke behind Marchand in ninth place at 167. Barnett shot an 87 in the first round and an 80 in the second round.

Two golfers tied for 10th at 168. They were Annika Clunk of Lewis & Clark, who shot 87-81, and Maggie Peters of Whitworth, who carded 79-89.

Towner earned 16th place for Willamette with a score of 177. She shot an 87 on Saturday and a 90 on Sunday. Also competing for the Bearcats were Kristen Barclay (FR., Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School), Camy Pickworth (Fr., Columbus, OH/Columbus School for Girls) and Katerin Vasquez (Fr., Indio, CACoachella Valley HS). Barclay shot 192 (95-97), while Pickworth carded 204 (102-102) and Vasquez shot 251 (126-125).

Whitman took first place in the team standings with a score of 625 (318-307). Whitworth followed in second at 666 (332-334). Lewis & Clark placed third at 711 (367-344). Pacific Lutheran was fourth at 726 (364-362), with Willamette in fifth at 740 (371-369), University of Puget Sound in sixth at 760 (387-373), and Linfield College in seventh at 771 (384-387). A total of 39 golfers competed in the tournament, which was hosted by Whitman.

Willamette will return to action on Saturday, March 17 and Sunday, March 18 at the Willamette Cup. The tournament will be held at Trysting Tree Golf Course in Corvallis, Oregon.