Towner Improves by 18 Strokes in Second Round of Culturame Classic

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

CANBY, Ore. -- Willamette University women's golfer Lexi Towner (Jr., Chico, CA/Chico HS) shot an 84 during the second round of the Culturame Classic on Sunday, Oct. 7 at Willamette Valley Country Club. Towner improved her score by 18 strokes from Saturday's opening round, when she shot 102. Towner's 36-hole total was 186.

"Lexi had an excellent bounce back round today," Willamette Assistant Coach Ryan Melnychuk said. "She was able to take away something positive from the first round, and improved by 18 shots because of it. It was very impressive."

Also competing in the tournament for Willamette was Katerin Vasquez (So., Indio, CA/Coachella Valley HS). She shot 108 in the first round and 121 in the second round for a total of 229.

George Fox University, which hosted the Culturame Classic, won the event with a score of 6-3 (303-300). Whitman College took second place at 639 (330-309) after improving by 21 strokes in the second round. Lewis & Clark College was third at 651 (321-330), with Corban University in fourth at 682 (347-335) and University of California, Santa Cruz in fifth place at 709 (357-352). Willamette and Linfield College did not field complete teams.

Iris Kawada and Alex McMenamin, both from George Fox, tied for first place at 150. Each shot a 76 in the first round and a 74 in the second round. Kaye Hunn of GFU was third at 151 (77-74).

Two golfers, Shiyang Fan of Whitman and Janelle Decker of GFU, tied for fourth place at 155. Fan carded 79-76, while Decker shot 74-81. Mady Rhodenbaugh from Lewis & Clark placed sixth at 156 (76-80).

Willamette will participate in the Northwest Conference Fall Classic on Saturday, Oct. 13 and Sunday, Oct. 14 at Michelbook Country Club near McMinnville, Oregon.