By Mark Colachico, Interim Assistant Athletics Communications Director

ALOHA, ORE. -- After the opening day of the GFU Culturame Classic hosted by George Fox University, Willamette University sits in fourth place behind tournament-host George Fox, Whitman College, and Pacific Lutheran University.

The Bearcats are a combined 54-over par on the 5,873 yard, par 73 course at The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club.

Tournament-host George Fox leads the six-team tournament after the opening day with a combined team score of 18-over 310 followed by Whitman (19-over 311), Pacific Lutheran (39-over 331), Willamette (54-over 346), Lewis & Clark College (68-over 360), and Pacific University (96-over 388).

LettaJoe Gallup (Jr., Alameda, CA/Holy Names HS) leads the way for Willamette with an opening round score of 9-over 82 that is good enough for a two-way tie for 18th overall.

Taneesh Sra (Jr., Fremont, CA/Mission San Jose HS) and Elise Levy (Jr., Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS) both sit inside the Top 25 for the Bearcats, as Sra is tied for 21st with one other player after posting an 18-hole score of 12-over 85 with Levy carding an opening day total of 15-over 88 that has her all alone in 25th place.

Maddi Barnett (Fr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) rounded out the Bearcats' scoring quartet with an 18-hole score of 18-over 91, while Stephanie Aronson (Fr., Pleasanton, CA/Foothill HS) also competed as part of Willamette's team posting an opening round total of 26-over 99.

Competing as an individual for the Bearcats, Holly Steele (Fr., Stayton, OR/Stayton HS) sits all alone in 37th place following her opening round score of 42-over 115.

Individually, Oregon's Marcella Pranovia is the clubhouse leader after Day #1 with a score of 3-under 70 followed by fellow Duck Megan Condor at 1-under 72. Rounding out the Top 5 are George Fox's Sydney Maluenda (even-par 73), George Fox's Hailey Ostrom (1-over 74), Whitman's Lou Points (3-over 76), Oregon's Brenna Murphy (3-over 76), and Oregon's Monica Petchankan (3-over 76).

The second and final round will be played tomorrow - Sunday, Oct. 12 - beginning at 8:00 a.m. (PDT) at The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha, Oregon.