By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

BANKS, Ore. -- Lexi Towner (Sr., Chico, CA/Chico HS) of Willamette University was in first place and teammate Kristen Barclay (Sr./Jr., Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School) was in second place, as the first day of the Pacific Spring Invitational in women's golf concluded on Saturday, Feb. 29 at the Quail Valley Golf Course. The Bearcats finished the first round in fourth place in the team standings. Action is scheduled to continue with the second round on Sunday, March 1 starting at 8 a.m. (PST).

Towner carded an 85 to lead the field and Barclay shot an 86. Kamryn Ford of Lewis & Clark College was in third place with a 90, while Annika Clunk from L&C owned fourth place at 93. Briana Finau and Kelsey Nakagawa, both from Pacific University, were tied for fifth place at 94. Bailey Runchey from the University of Puget Sound was seventh at 95.

Tournament host Pacific topped the team standings with a score of 388. The Boxers led by two strokes over Puget Sound, which held second place at 390. Lewis & Clark was third at 394, with Willamette in fourth at 409. Linfield did not enter a complete team.

In addition to Towner and Barclay, other Willamette golfers competing on Saturday were Meghan Hook (So./Fy., Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS), who shot 117, and Analyssa Ruiz (So./Fy., Keizer, OR/Blanchet Catholic School), who shot 121.