Towner Shoots 88 over First 18 Holes of Willamette Cup

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

OREGON CITY, Ore. -- Willamette University women's golfer Lexi Towner (Fr., Chico, CA/Chico HS) shot an 88 in the first round and held 15th place at the Willamette Cup on Saturday, Feb. 26 at Stone Creek Golf Club. The tournament will conclude on Sunday with the second round of action.

Towner was one of two Bearcats competing in the women's tournament. Maddi Barnett (Jr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) shot a 92 in the first round and was tied for 18th.

George Fox University topped the team standings at 309. The Bruins led by seven strokes over Lewis & Clark College, which held second place at 316. Corban University was third at 340, with Pacific University in fourth place at 371 and Linfield College in fifth at 388. Willamette did not field a complete team.

Syndey Maluenda from GFU led the individual standings with a 1-over-par 73. She was three strokes in front of Arielle Valdez from Lewis & Clark and Carrie Wallace from Corban, who each shot 76. Iris Kawada of George Fox was fourth at 78.

Five golfers were tied for fifth place -- all at 79. Included in the tie were Janelle Decker, Kristin Elich and Madison Perry from George Fox, plus Tori Eichten and Annie McCutchan from L&C.