Smith Finishes Second at Willamette Invitational after Carding a 76 in Second Round

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University golfer Nicole Smith (Fr., Portland, OR/Westview HS) registered a 76 for the lowest score in the second round, as she moved from fifth place into second place in the final standings at the Willamette Invitational on Sunday, April 15. Kelsey Morrison from George Fox University won the individual title by six strokes, as she finished at 153. Smith followed with an overall score of 159.

George Fox won the team title with a 36-hole score of 640 (322-318). Willamette finished in second place at 695 (348-347) and Linfield College took third place at 711 (360-351). Lewis & Clark College did not field a complete team.

Morrison earned her medalist honors by shooting the lowest round of the tournament with a 75 on the first day, before adding a 78 in the second round. Smith shot 83-76 to attain second place.

In addition to Morrison's win, three other golfers for George Fox placed in the top five. Abby Mann (82-79) and Jill Westendorf (84-77) tied for third at 161. Megan McGrew of GFU was fifth at 166 (81-85).

Alexandria Smith from Linfield was sixth, as she carded a 171 (88-83). Three golfers -- Hannah Christianson (87-88) of Linfield, Whitney Jammerman (91-84) from GFU and Rebecca Langer (94-81) from Lewis & Clark -- all tied for seventh at 175.

Mckenzie Weinhold (Fr., Placerville, CA/El Dorado HS/U. of Nevada-Reno) from Willamette tied for 10th place at 176 (88-88). Also competing for Willamette were Mele Ana Kastner (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Columbia River HS), who shot 178 (90-88), and LettaJoe Gallup (Fr., Alameda, CA/Holy Names HS), who finished at 182 (87-95).

The Bearcats will return to action at the Northwest Conference Championship Tournament on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22 at Columbia Point Golf Course in Richland, Wash. Tee times are set to begin at 11 a.m. (PDT) on Saturday and at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.