NWC Championship: Bruins 4th after Day One of NWC Final Tournament

On Sunday’s final day, the first group of golfers are set to tee off at 8:00 a.m., with the last group expected to hit the course around 10:10 a.m.

Salem-News.com Sports

YAKIMA, Wash. - On a blustery day with winds up to 30 miles per hour and gusts even higher, resulting in higher than usual scores, the George Fox University Bruins shot a four-player score of 379 to stand in fourth place after the first day of competition in the Northwest Conference Women’s Golf Championship Tournament Saturday afternoon here at the Apple Tree Golf Course.

The host University of Puget Sound posted a team score of 355 on the par 74 course to take a 10-stroke lead over second-place Linfield College at 365 and an 18-stroke lead over current NWC standings-leader Whitworth University, which shot a 373.

Following the fourth-place Bruins are defending NWC champion Pacific University at 388, Pacific Lutheran University and Willamette University in a sixth-place deadlock at 446, and Whitman College at 449. Lewis & Clark College has only two golfers competing, falling short of the required number for a team score.

Brianna Nap turned in the Bruins’ best score with a 48-45=93, tying for 10th in the individual standings. Also counting for the Bruins were Sarah McCown and Whitney Clunes with identical 46-49=95 scores, and Mandy Cameron with a 44-52=96.

“We were only behind the current 1st-place team, UPS, by seven strokes after nine holes,” noted George Fox coach MaryJo McCloskey. “Unfortunately, some costly penalty strokes on a difficult back nine put us further behind. We are in 4th, but we plan on ‘rallying’ tomorrow. It will be tough to catch UPS now, but we are going to try to finish strong. Hopefully, it won't be as windy in the morning - It was brutal!”

Sarah Bicker of Puget Sound led all golfers with an eight-over-par 41-41=82. Linfield was led by a 43-41=84 from Brynn Hurdus, tying her with Whitney Ueno of Willamette, who shot a 43-41=84, for second place in the individual standings.

On Sunday’s final day, the first group of golfers are set to tee off at 8:00 a.m., with the last group expected to hit the course around 10:10 a.m.

The NWC champion is determined by results from the Fall Classic, Spring Classic, and the NWC Championship. Teams are awarded one point for each team they finish ahead of during the Fall and Spring Classics, while teams will earn two points for each team they finish ahead of at the Championship.

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