Bearcats Finish in Fifth Place at Culturame Classic

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

ALOHA, ORE. -- Willamette University took fifth place in the final team standings as the Culturame Classic, hosted by George Fox University, as the tournament concluded on Sunday, Oct. 15 at The Reserve Vineyards Golf Club. The Bearcats shot 717 overall, with a team score of 362 on the first day and a score of 355 in the second round.

The University of Hawaii-Hilo won the team title with a two-day score of 601 (299-302). George Fox finished second with a score of 624 (315-309), while Linfield College claimed third place at 680 (329-351). Biola University (Calif.) took fourth place at 702 (341-361).

Willamette was next, with Northwest Christian University in sixth place, just two strokes behind the Bearcats at 719 (363-356). WU edged NCU by one stroke each day. Pacific University placed seventh with a score of 757 (372-385). Lewis & Clark College and Simpson University (Calif.) did not field complete teams.

Dayna Bersamin of Hawaii-Hilo earned first place in the individual standings. She shot a combined total of 146 (74-72). She won by four stroke over her own teammate, Kristen Sawada, who led after the first day with a 73, before shooting 77 over the final 18 holes for a total of 150. Nyssa Aoki of Hawaii-Hilo, Megan McGrew of George Fox and Kelsey Morrison of GFU tied for third place at 151. Aoki shot 76-75, while McGrew carded 75-76 and Morrison went 74-77.

Sixth place was Erika Morihiro from Hawaii-Hilo. She shot 156 with back-to-back rounds of 78. Lauren Marlow of Biola, who was tied for second with Bersamin and Morrison after the first day, fell into seventh place at 158 (74-84).

Willamette golfers Nicole Smith (Fr., Portland, OR/Westview HS) and McKenzie Weinhold (Placerville, CA/El Dorado HS/Univ. of Nevada-Reno) both tied for 13th along with Brinn Hovde of Linfield. Smith shot 84-81, Weinhold shot 82-83 and Hovde carded 75-90. Smith improved from 17th place after 18 holes, while Weinhold moved up from 15th place.

Also competing for the Bearcats were Jenny Grauberger (Fr., Port Townsend, WA/Port Townsend HS), Mele Ana Kastner (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Columbia River HS) and Stephanie Swindell (Fr., Brush Prairie, WA/Hockinson HS). Grauberger achieved final score of 192 with a 98 in the first round and a 94 in the second round. Kastner finished at 196 (98-98) and Swindell improved by eight strokes on the second day for a score of 202 (105-97).

Up next for Willamette is the Northwest Conference Fall Classic, which the Bearcats will host at Heron Lakes Golf Course in Portland, Ore. The women's tournament will be played on the Greenback course, with the action starting at 11 a.m. (PDT) on Saturday, Oct. 22 and at 10 a.m. (PDT) on Sunday, Oct. 23. The Fall Classic counts toward one-fourth of the overall NWC team title for 2011-12.