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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's golf team will compete at the 2015 Northwest Conference Spring Classic on Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12. The tournament will be played at Lake Spanaway Golf Club in Tacoma, Washington.

Each year, the NWC uses a combination of three tournaments to determine the overall team champion. The NWC Fall Classic is worth one-fourth of the title and the NWC Spring Classic is worth one-fourth. The NWC Tournament, set for April 25-26 this season, counts for one-half of the title.

Willamette placed fifth at the NWC Fall Classic with a 36-hole score of 702 (352-350). The Bearcats were just one stroke behind Pacific Lutheran University, which took fourth place at 701 (357-344). George Fox University gained an early edge for the NWC title by winning the Fall Classic at 634 (316-318).

Taneesh Sra (Jr., Fremont, CA/Mission San Jose HS) was Willamette's top finisher during the Fall Classic, as she tied for eighth place at 167. She carded an 85 on the first day and an 82 on the second day.

Sra is one of four Bearcats who will play for Willamette this weekend. Also golfing for the WU women's team at the NWC Spring Classic will be LettaJoe Gallup (Jr., Alameda, CA/Holy Names HS), Maddi Barnett (Fr., Boise, Idaho/Timberline HS) and Holly Steele (Fr., Stayton, OR/Stayton HS).

Gallup tied for third at the Pioneer Invitational at Heron Lakes Golf Club with a score of 81 on March 14. Earlier this spring, Sra tied for first, Barnett was third and Gallup tied for fourth at the Willamette Cup, hosted by Pacific University at Quail Valley Golf Course on Feb. 28. Sra carded an 82, while Barnett shot an 89 and Gallup shot a 90.

In Saturday's first round of the NWC Spring Classic, Gallup will tee off at 11:45 a.m., followed by Sra at 11:54 a.m., Barnett at 12:03 p.m. and Steele at 12:12 p.m. The course will play at 5,825 yards with a par of 72.