Ruiz Leads Bearcats on First Day of Pacific Invitational

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

BANKS, Ore. -- Analyssa Ruiz (Sr./So., Keizer, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) led the Willamette University women's golf team in the first round of the Pacific Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 27 at Quail Valley Golf Course. Willamette was in sixth place in the team standings.

Ruiz carded a score of 106 for the Bearcats. Teammate Meghan Hook (Jr./So., Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) shot 128. Kiki Fierstos (Jr./So., Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) registered a 133 and Alexis Schwartz (Sr./So., Ontario, OR/Ontario HS) shot a 134.

The top six players on the leaderboard after 18 holes were all from George Fox University. Quincy Beyrouty held the lead for medalist honors with a 75. She was two strokes in front of Makensie Toole at 77. Alexandria McMenamin and Alison Takamiya were tied for third place at 79, with Kaitlin Tonai in fifth place with an 80. Nicolle Nitta was sixth after carding an 81. Madeline Hahn of Whitworth University was seventh with an 81.

GFU held the team lead with a score of 315. Whitworth was in second place at 375, with Linfield University in third place at 403. Pacific University trailed Linfield by just two strokes at 405 for fourth in the standings. Lewis & Clark College was fifth at 429 and Willamette was sixth at 501.

The tournament is scheduled to conclude with 18 holes at Quail Valley on Sunday, Feb. 28.