By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- Lexi Towner (So., Chico, CA/Chico HS) of Willamette University shot an 82 in the first round of the 2018 NWC Tournament in women's golf on Saturday, April 21 at Oakbrook Golf Club and was tied with two other golfers for 11th place. Willamette was tied for eighth in the team standings with University of Puget Sound. The Bearcats and the Loggers both shot 361. Both teams were just four strokes out of seventh place and only eight strokes out of fifth place.

Maddi Barnett (Sr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) of Willamette was 17th with a score of 84. Also competing for the Bearcats were Kristen Barclay (So./Fr., Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School) with a 93, and Katerin Vasquez (Fr., Indio, CA/Coachella Valley HS), who shot 102.

"Today was our best day on the course we've had all year," Willamette Assistant Coach Ryan Melnychuk said. "I am really proud of their scores and attitude today. Lexi led us with one of her lower rounds. It was great to see her score well. Katerin crushed her personal-best today by eight shots, and I think a sub-100 round could happen soon. Kristen also shot her personal-best of 93, highlighted by a birdie on #9. Maddi had a consistent round and managed the course extremely well."

Shiyang Fan of Whitman College topped the individual leaderboard with a 1-over-par 73. Kristin Elich of George Fox University was a single stroke off the pace at 74. Jaymie Pentony from Whitworth University was third after carding a 77, while Phoebe Nguyen from Whitman was fourth with a 78. Kayle Hunn of GFU held fifth place with a 79.

Three golfers were tied for sixth with scores of 80. The tie included Kacey Godwin and Hannah Roh of Whitman, as well as Madeline Rice from Linfield College. A two-way tie for 10th featured Janelle Decker of George Fox and Maggie Peters of Whitworth, both at 81.

Whitman's team owned first place at the end of the day with a score of 311. The Blues held a six-stroke lead over George Fox, which was second at 317. Whitworth was third at 332, with Lewis & Clark College in fourth at 342 and Pacific Lutheran University in fifth at 353. Pacific University followed in sixth at 355 and Linfield was seventh at 357. The tie between Willamette and Puget Sound at 361 completed the team standings.

The NWC Tournament will conclude with the second round on Sunday, April 22.