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

RICHLAND, WASH. -- The Willamette University women's golf team holds fifth place after the first day of the 2012 Northwest Conference Championship Tournament at Columbia Point Golf Course. The Bearcats achieved a team score of 358. Whitman College topped the field with a score of 317, but owned only a one-stroke lead over George Fox University, which shot 318.

Mckenzie Weinhold (Fr., Placerville, CA/El Dorado HS/U. of Nevada-Reno) and Nicole Smith (Fr., Portland, OR/Westview HS) each carded an 87 to lead the Bearcats in the first round. Weinhold and Smith were part of a three-way tie for 19th place, but they finished the day just three strokes out of 11th place and only seven strokes out of seventh place.

The NWC Championship Tournament will conclude on Sunday, April 22 with the final 18 holes. The tournament counts for one-half of the overall NWC men's golf championship, with the NWC Fall Classic and the NWC Spring Classic each counting for one-fourth of the title.