By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
WOODBURN, Ore. -- Willamette University's Lexi Towner (Sr., Chico, CA/Chico HS) shot an 84 in the first round of the Northwest Conference Fall Classic in women's golf on Saturday, Oct. 12, to move into 11th place at the Oregon Golf Association (OGA) Golf Course. The second round will be played at the OGA course on Sunday, Oct. 13.
Rachel Drgastin and Alexandria McMenamin, both from George Fox University, were tied at the top of the leaderboard at even-par 72. Hanna Roho of Whitman College and Kayle Hunn of GFU shared third place at 2-over-par 74. Katilyn Tonai from George Fox was fifth at 76. Cheyenne Marchand from Whitworth University was sixth with an 80.
Towner is one of four Bearcats competing at the NWC Fall Classic. Also golfing for WU are Meghan Hook (So./Fy., Sunnyvale, CAHomestead HS), Kiki Fierstos (So./Fy., Redmond, OR/Redmond HS), and Analyssa Ruiz (So./Fy., Keizer, OR/Blanchet Catholic School). Hook carded a 117 in the first round, while Fierstos shot 130 and Ruiz shot 131.
George Fox led the team standings by 39 strokes with a score of 6-over-par 294. Whitworth was second at 333 and Pacific Lutheran University held third place at 343. Whitman was fourth at 35, Pacific University was fifth at 355, and University of Puget Sound owned sixth place at 368. Lewis & Clark College followed in seventh place at 405, with Linfield College in eighth at 432 and Willamette in ninth at 462.
The NWC Fall Classic is one of three tournaments used to determine the overall NWC team champion in women's golf. The NWC Fall Classic and the NWC Spring Classic are each worth one-fourth of the title, while the NWC Tournament is worth one-half of the title.