By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

BANKS, Ore. -- Willamette University women's golfers Lexi Towner (Fr., Chico, CA/Chico HS) and Maddi Barnett (Jr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) competed in the first day of the Pacific Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Quail Valley Golf Course. The two-day event will conclude with the second round on Sunday.

Towner carded a score of 87 over the opening 18 holes to sit in 14th place. Barnett shot an 88 and was tied with Sami Briney of Pacific Lutheran University for 15th.

The individual leader after the first round was Desirae Haselwood from Pacific Lutheran with a 4-over-par 76. Jeankie-Jhen Aczon of PLU and Annie McCutchan from Lewis & Clark College were tied for second place at 77. Briana Finau from Pacific University was fourth at 78. Claire Burke, Mady Rhodenbaugh and Arielle Valdez, all from Lewis & Clark, were tied for fifth place at 79.

L&C was at the top of the team leaderboard with a score of 317. Pacific Lutheran was close behind in second place at 319. Whitworth University was third at 362, with Linfield College in fourth at 367, and Pacific in fifth at 377. Willamette did not field a complete team.

In the second round on Sunday, Barnett will tee off at 10:40 a.m. (PDT). Towner is slated to start the round at 10:56 a.m. A total of 32 golfers are participating in the tourmanent.