Strong Final Round Helps Barnett Finish 4th at Willamette Spring Thaw

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

BEND, Ore. -- Willamette University women's golfer Maddi Barnett (Sr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) earned fourth place at the Willamette Spring Thaw by shooting an 86 in the final round on Sunday, April 15 at the Pronghorn Resort Golf Club. Barnett improved by six strokes over her first round score of 92 and completed the 36-hole tournament at 178.

Barnett moved up five positions from a tie for ninth place at the end of the first round into her final spot in fourth place. Her 86 in the second round was the third best score of the day and was just one stroke behind two golfers at 85.

Maggie Peters of Whitworth University took first place with a score of 167 after carding a tournament-low 82 in the first round followed by an 85 in the second round. She won the championship by four strokes. Allie Slingsby, also from Whitworth, earned second place at 171 (83-88). Mady Rhodenbaugh of Lewis & Clark College was third at 174 (82-92). Barnett's 179 was next. Three golfers tied for fifth place at 180, as Sami Briney of Pacific Lutheran University and Briana Finau from Pacific University each shot 89-91, while Jaymie Pentony from Whitworth shot 95-85.

Abby Lyon and Nicole Matiatos, both from Pacific Lutheran, tied for eight place at 181. Lyon carded 92-89, with Matiatos recording scored of 88 and 93. Annika Clunk from Lewis & Clark rounded out the top 10 at 182 with back-to-back rounds of 91.

Whitworth won the team title with a score of 698. The Pirates shot 343 on the first day for the low round of the tournament and then registered a 355 in the second round. Pacific Lutheran placed second at 755 (377-378), while Lewis & Clark was third at 788 (389-399). Pacific University finished one stroke behind the Pioneers to take fourth place at 789 (393-396). Linfield College was fifth at 876 (445-431). Willamette did not field a complete team.

The Bearcats will compete at the Northwest Conference Tournament on Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21 at Oakbrook Golf Club in Lakewood, Washington. The NWC Tournament is worth one-half of the NWC Championship. The NWC Fall Classic and the NWC Spring Classic, both already completed, are each worth one-fourth of the title.