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

NEWBERG, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's golf team finished in fifth place as the Northwest Conference Fall Classic concluded on Sunday, Oct. 26 at Chehalem Glenn Golf Course. The tournament was suspended on Saturday due to high winds and rain. The conclusion of the first round and all of the second round were played on Sunday.

George Fox University won the team title with a score of 634 (316-318). Whitman College placed second 23 strokes back at 657 (332-325). Whitworth University was third at 681 (344-337), while Pacific Lutheran University placed fourth at 701 (357-344). The Bearcats were one stroke behind PLU in fifth place at 702 (352-350).

Lewis & Clark College placed sixth with a score of 706 (354-352). Pacific University was seventh at 806 (414-392) and Puget Sound was eighth at 851 (429-422). Linfield College did not enter a complete team.

The NWC Fall Classic counts toward one-fourth of the overall NWC team title. The NWC Spring Classic is worth one-fourth and the NWC Tournament, also played during the spring, is worth one-half.

Taneesh Sra (Jr., Fremont, CA/Mission San Jose HS) was Willamette's top golfer in the individual standings. She tied with two other golfers for eighth place with a score of 167 (85-82).

Maddi Barnett (Fr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and LettaJoe Gallup (Jr., Alameda, CA/Holy Names HS) of Willamette both tied for 22nd, along with two other golfers. Barnett shot 86-90--176, while Gallup carded 89-87--176.

Also competing for Willamette were Elise Levy (Jr., Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS) and Stephanie Aronson (Fr., Pleasanton, CA/Foothill HS). Levy shot 191 (100-91), while Aronson shot 200 (92-108).

The individual champion was Sydney Maluenda of George Fox with a score of 154 (76-78). Loreece Magsanide, also from GFU, was second at 157 (79-78). Phoebe Nguyen of Whitman and Melissa Nugent of GFU tied for third place at 160. Nguyen recorded scores of 78 and 82, while Nugent shot 76 and 84. Lou Points form Whitman was fifth at 161 (82-79).

Maluenda and Nugent, who both shot 76 in the first round, tied for the low round of the tournament. Maluenda and Magsanide were the only golfers to break the 80-mark in both rounds.

The NWC Fall Classic was the final event for the Bearcats until the spring season begins during second semester.