Weinhold is Tied for Lead after First Day of West Region Invitational in Texas

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

GEORGETOWN, TEXAS -- Mckenzie Weinhold (Fr., Placerville, CA/El Dorado HS/Univ. of Nevada-Reno) of Willamette University was tied for first place with Taylor O'Rear from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with a score of 79 during the first round of the West Region Invitational at Berry Creek Country Club on Monday, April 9.

Weinhold's score was her second sub-80 round at the collegiate level and her first during the spring season. Weinhold and O'Rear each carded a 38 on the front nine and a 41 on the back nine. They both held a two-stoke lead over Paige Pollak from St. Mary's College (Ind.), who shot an 81 (38-43).

Paige Coburn of Southwestern University (Texas) was fourth with an 82 (38-44). Also tied for fourth place were Madison Wallender and Molly Zumbro, both from Trinity University (Texas). Wallender registered the lowest score of the day on the front time with a 37, but shot eight strokes higher on the back nine with a 45. Zumbro carded a 42 on the front nine and a 40 on the back nine.

Also competing for Willamette during Monday's first round were Nicole Smith (Portland, OR/Westview HS), Lettajoe Gallup (Fr., Alameda, CA/Holy Names HS) and Mele Ana Kastner (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Columbia River HS).

Smith shot an 86 (41-45) and was tied for 14th place out of the 35 athletes entered in the tournament. Gallup shot 95 (46-49) and Kastner shot 101 (51-50).

Southwestern University, the host of the tournament, held the team lead at the end of the first day with a score of 334. Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) was second at 336 and Trinity University (Texas) was third at 337.

St. Mary's College (Ind.) was fourth at 345, with Concordia University (Texas) in fifth at 353 and Willamette in sixth at 361. Texas Lutheran University was seventh with a score of 372.

Competition in the West Region Invitational will resume at Berry Creek on Tuesday, April 10.