Sra Finishes in Third Place, Barnett is Sixth, at Wellesley Spring Break Invitational

Taneesh Sra (Jr., Fremont, CA/Mission San Jose HS)
Taneesh Sra (Jr., Fremont, CA/Mission San Jose HS)

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

CHAMPIONSGATE, Fla. -- Taneesh Sra (Sr., Fremont, CA/Mission San Jose HS) of Willamette University took third place and teammate Maddi Barnett (So., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) finished sixth, as the Wellesley Spring Break Invitational concluded on Wednesday, March 23 with the second round of play at the ChampionsGate Country Club.

Sra shot a 79 on Wednesday to match the 79 she carded in the first round on Tuesday. She completed the 36 holes with a score of 158. Barnett, who shot an 86 in the first round, improved by six strokes to an 80 in the second round to complete the tournament at 166.

Aubryn Walters (Fr., Lafayette, OR/McMinnville HS) of Willamette lowered her score by nine strokes on the second day. She shot 114 on Tuesday and 105 on Wednesay for an overall score of 219.

"The girls, were awesome this week," Willamette Head Coach Patrick Daugherty said. "Maddi shot six strokes better and Aubryn was nine strokes better. Taneesh had two very solid rounds. I know she wanted to finish better today since she was 1-over through 12, but she faced some adversity and still did well."

Maddi Barnett (So., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) Mehan Klintworth of Hope College (Mich.) won the individual title with a score of 153. She shot 75 in the first round and 78 in the second round. Klintworth's 75 on Tuesday was the low round of the tournament. Nicole Meyer, also from Hope, finished second at 155 (79-76). Her 76 was the low score on Wednesday.

Sra was three strokes behind Meyer and one stroke in front of Morgan Leep from Hope, who took fourth place at 159 (79-80). Kayla Meyer from Carthage College (Wis.) placed fifth at 160 (78-82).

Barnett's score of 166 in sixth place was one shot better than the 167 recorded by Hope's Wierenga Megan, who shot 83-84. Three golfers tied for eighth place at 169.

Hope won the team championship with a score of 632 after shooting 316 each day. Carthage was second at 668 and Wellesley placed third at 735. Willamette did not field a complete team.

"This trip and experience has been amazing," Daugherty said. "I am really proud of them, and I can't wait to see how the rest of the year unfolds for them individually."

The Bearcats will return to action on April 9 and April 10 at the Northwest Conference Spring Classic, set for the Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington.