Towner Shoots a 79 in Second Round of NWC Fall Classic to Finish 11th at 163

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

WOODBURN, Ore. -- Lexi Towner (Sr., Chico, CA/Chico HS) from Willamette University carded a 79 for the final 18 holes of the Northwest Conference Fall Classic in women's golf on Sunday, Oct. 13, to earn 11th place with an overall score of 163. Towner was one of nine golfers who scored lower than 80 on Sunday. A total of 41 golfers competed in the tournament at the Oregon Golf Association (OGA) Golf Course.

The individual champion of the NWC Fall Classic was Rachel Drgastin of George Fox University, who shot 148 on the strength of a 72 in the first round and a 76 in the second round. Temamate Kayle Hunn of GFU took second place at 150 (74-76), while Hannah Roh from Whitman College was third at 151 (74-77). Cheyenne Marchand of Whitworth University achieved fourth place at 152 (80-72). Marchand's 72 tied three other golfers for the low round of the tournament.

Fifth place was a two-way tie betwen Allie Slingsby of Whitworth and Alexandria McMenamin of George Fox, both at 153. Slingsby carded rounds of 81 and 72, while McMenamin registered the reverse, with a 72 on Saturday and an 81 on Sunday. Quincy Beyrouty from GFU was seventh at 155 (82-73).

Joining Towner as members of Willamette's team at the tournament were Meghan Hook (So./Fy., Sunnyvale, CAHomestead HS), Analyssa Ruiz (So./Fy., Keizer, OR/Blanchet Catholic School), and Kiki Fierstos (So./Fy., Redmond, OR/Redmond HS).

Hook lowered her first-round score of 117 by 16 strokes on Sunday, as she registered a 101 over the final 18 holes. Ruiz improved from a 131 in the first round to a 119 in the second round. Fierstos shot 130 and 146.

George Fox was the team champion with a score of 599 for the 36 holes. The Bruins shot 294 to open the tournament and 305 in the second round. Whitworth was second at 639 (333-306), Pacific Lutheran University was third at 675 (343-332), and Whitman was fourth at 677 (345-332). Pacific University followed in fifth place at 710 (355-355), while University of Puget Sound was sixth at 733 (368-365), Lewis & Clark College was seventh at 803 (405-398), Linfield College took eighth at 858 (432-426), and Willamette was ninth at 907 (462-445).

The NWC Fall Classic is one of three tournaments used to determine the overall NWC team champion in women's golf. The NWC Fall Classic and the NWC Spring Classic are each worth one-fourth of the title, while the NWC Tournament is worth one-half of the title.

With the Fall Classic completed, George Fox leads the standings with 8 points, followed by Whitworth in second at 7 points. Pacific Lutheran is third with 6 points, Whitman is fourth at 5 points, and Pacific in sixth at 4 points. Lewis & Clark holds seventh place with 2 points, Linfield is in eighth place at 1 point, and Willamette is ninth with no points.