By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Willamette University's Lexi Towner (Jr., Chico, CA/Chico HS) is tied for 16th place after the first round of the Northwest Conference Spring Classic in women's golf on Saturday, April 13 at Olympia Country & Golf Club. Irs Kawada of George Fox University topped the individual leaderboard with a score of 3-over par 75 for a four-stroke lead.

Towner shot 93 in the first round and was tied with Briana Finau of Pacific University for 16th. Also competing for the Bearcats were Kristen Barclay (Jr./So., Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School) and Katerin Vasquez (So., Indio, CA/Coachella Valley HS). Barclay shot 107 in the first round, while Vasquez shot 133.

Kawada was followed on the leaderboard by Janelle Decker, also from George Fox. Decker carded a score of 79. Shiyang Fan from Whitman College was third with an 80, while Alexandria McMenamin of GFU was fourth at 81. Two golfers, Ally Collier of Whitman and Sami Briney from Pacific Lutheran University, were tied for fifth place at 84. Kayle Hunn of George Fox and Jaymie Pentony of Whitworth University shared seventh place at 85.

George Fox led the team standings with a score of 320. Whitman was second at 341 and Whitworth held third place at 351. Lewis & Clark College was fourth at 386, with Pacific Lutheran in fifth at 389, University of Puget Sound in sixth at 401, and Pacific University in seventh at 412. Willamette and Linfield College did not field complete teams.

Action at the NWC Spring Classic will conclude on Sunday, April 14 with the second round. A shotgun start will begin play on the back nine, with Towner opening the round on the 17th hole. Vasquez with start with the first group on the 18th hole, and Barclay will begin with the second group on the 18th hole.