By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
INDIO, Calif. -- Maddi Barnett (Sr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) of Willamette University shot an 85 and teammate Lexi Towner (So., Chico, CA/Chico HS) carded an 87 as the Bulldog Classic, sponsored by University of Redlands, concluded on Tuesday, March 27 at Indian Springs Golf Club. Barnett finished with a 36-hole score of 172, while Towner registered an overall score of 182. Both golfers improved from the first round, with Barnett lowering her score by three strokes from an opening round of 88 and Towner cutting eight strokes from her first round score of 95.
Also competing for the Bearcats were Kristen Barclay (So./Fr., Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School), Camy Pickworth (Fr., Columbus, OH/Columbus School for Girls) and Katerin Vasquez (Fr., Indio, CA/Coachella Valley HS). They also improved on their scores from Monday, as all five Willamette golfers registered lower scores on Tuesday. Barclay finished at 188 (96-92), while Pickworth earned an overall score of 191 (97-94). Vasquez shot 225 (114-111).
Their combined efforts helped Willamette drop from a team score of 376 in the first round to a score of 358 in the second round -- an improvement of 18 strokes. The Bearcats shot 734 overall.
Jessica Williams from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) won the individual title at 2-over-par 146 (77-69) for 36 holes. Williams' score of 69 on Tuesday was the low round of the tournament. Nicole Lopes, also from Embry-Riddle, placed second at 147 (74-73). Margaret Loncki of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) was third at 149 (75-74) and Caroline Ordian from University of Redlands (Calif.) was fourth at 151 (73-78).
Priscilla Ki of Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) and Keilee Bessho from Hope International University (Calif.) tied for fifth place at 152. Ki shot 74-78 and Bessho shot 73-79. Briana Morris from Methodist University (N.C.) took seventh with a score of 153 (79-74). Lauren Fesler from California Lutheran University and Jorie Hodapp from Berry College (Ga.) each shot 154 to share eighth place. Fesler carded scores of 75 and 79, while Hodapp shot 80 and 74.
Two golfers tied for 10th at 155. They were Johnna Beehner of Methodist, who shot 74-81, and Bethany Bullers from Corban University, who shot 75-80. A total of 97 golfers completed both rounds.
Embry-Riddle won the team title with a score of 608 by shooting 311 in the first round and recording a tournament-low score of 297 in the second round. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps was second at 616 (308-308). Methodist placed third at 628 (305-323) and Pomona-Pitzer was fourth at 637 (311-326). California Lutheran finished one stroke behind Pomona-Pitzer in fifth place at 638 (314-324). The Bearcats placed 17th.
Willamette will return to action at the NWC Spring Classic on April 7-8 at the Hangman Valley Golf Course in Spokane, Washington. Whitworth University will be hosting the tournament.
