Bearcats Finish First at Willamette Invitational

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Led by a strong finish from Taneesh Kaur Sra (Fr., Fremont, CA/Mission San Jose HS), the Willamette University women's golf team won the team title at the Willamette Invitational, as the two-day event concluded on Sunday, March 3 at Illahe Hills Country Club.

Oregon State University golfers achieved the top four individual positions on the leaderboard, but the Beavers were not entered as a team.

Chelsey Lind of OSU won the individual championship after carding the low round of the tournament with a 74 in the second round. Lind, who was tied for the lead after the first day with an 80, finished with a 36-hole total of 154 to win by four strokes.

Rachael Fischer and Melissa Gibbons, also from Oregon State, tied for second place at 158. Fischer shot 81-77, while Gibbons recorded 80-78. Lauren Fischer of OSU was fourth at 161 (83-78).

Sra of Willamette was fifth overall with a score of 163. She shot a 79 in the second round after earning an 84 in the first round.

Willamette golfers also claimed sixth and seventh, with another WU athlete tied for eighth. Elise Levy (Fr., Reno, NV/Bishop Monague HS) was sixth at 170 (82-88), while Mckenzie Weinhold (So., Placerville, CA/El Dorado HS/Univ. of Nevada-Reno) finished seventh at 176 (83-93).

LettaJoe Gallup (So., Alameda, CA/Holy Names HS) tied for eighth place with Emily Thorud of Pacific University. Both golfers carded 178 for the 36 holes, with Gallup shooting 87-91 and Thorud shooting 86-92. Completing Willamette's lineup was Mele Ana Kastner (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Columbia River HS), who shot a 91 in the second round.

The Bearcats will compete at the Pacific Invitational in Aloha, Ore., on Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10. The tournament will be held at The Reserve Vineyards Golf Club.