By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
LAKE SPANAWAY, Wash. -- Willamette University women's golfer Maddi Barnett (Sr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) was tied for 22nd place after the first round of the PLU Invitational at the Lake Spanaway Golf Course on Saturday, Sept. 16. Barnett was part of an eight-way tie for 22nd with an 18-hole score of 85 over the par 72 course that covers 5,805 yards.
"The whole team was really excited to start the season, and it was great to see them out there competing at Lake Spanaway," Willamette Assistant Coach Ryan Melnychuk said. "The golf course played really firm and challenging. If you missed on the wrong side of the fairway, it went forever."
Whitman College topped the team standings with a score of 11-over-par 299. North Idaho College was second at 326. Community Colleges of Spokane and Whitworth University were tied for third place at 332. Pacific Lutheran University was fifth at 336, with Lewis & Clark College in sixth at 345. Pacific University and University of Puget Sound were tied for sevneth place at 356. Linfield and Willamette did not enter complete teams.
Shiyang Fan of Whitman topped the medalist standings with a 2-under-par 70. She was the only golfer at or below par for the day. Two of her teammates, Ally Collier and Kacey Godwin, were tied for second place at 76. Madi Brown from North Idaho and Phoebe Nguyen from Whitman were tied for fourth place with matching scores of 77. Briana Finau of Pacific and Katie Hilliard from Community College of Spokane shared sixth place at 79.
Three golfers were tied for eighth with scores of 80. They were Emma Byer of Whitman, Madison LaVergne of Pacific Lutheran, and Katie Ochoa from Whitworth.
Barnett was joined in the competition by WU teammates Lexi Towner (So., Chico, CA/Chico HS) and Camy Pickworth (Fr., Columbus, OH/Columbus School for Girls). Towner carded a score of 93. Pickworth shot 99.
"Everyone hit some incredible golf shots today, but we didn't score as well as we could have., Melnychuk commented. "This type of thing can happen in the first couple rounds of the season."
Action in the PLU Invitational will conclude with the second round on Sunday, Sept. 17. Pacific Lutheran is hosting the tournament.
