Bearcats to Open Women's Golf Season at Pacific Invitational

Kiki Fierstos (Jr./So., Redmond, OR/Redmond HS)
Kiki Fierstos (Jr./So., Redmond, OR/Redmond HS)
February 26, 2021

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University will begin the 2021 women's golf season on Saturday, Feb. 27 and Sunday, Feb. 28 when the Bearcats compete at the Pacific Invitational. The tournament is scheduled for 36 holes at Quail Valley Golf Course in Banks, Oregon.

All four members of Willamette's team are sophomores who registered great improvement last year. Each of the women's golfers improved by 30 or more strokes during the 2019-20 season. In addition, the team had a difference of 78 strokes between its high round and low round of the season.

Alexis Schwartz (Sr./So., Ontario, OR/Ontario HS) improved by 39 strokes to a low round of 108 at the Puget Sound Invitational. Meghan Hook (Jr./So., Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) lowered her score by 37 points. She achieved a low score of 96 at the UPS Invitational. Kiki Fierstos (Jr./So., Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) and Analyssa Ruiz (Sr./So., Keizer, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) also earned their lowest scores at the UPS Invitational. The low score for Fierstos was 113, while Ruiz registered a low score of 101. Willamette's low team score was 379 during the second round of the UPS Invitational. Over the season, Fierstos improved by 33 strokes and Ruiz improved by 30.

"I think with the vast improvement over such a short amount of time last year, we are looking forward to see how much the girls have progressed," Willamette Head Women's Golf Coach Patrick Daugherty said. "It has been a really challenging year since last march and we are looking forward to see how far they have come.

"With only four players, and three of them having played for just a year now with little experience, we really temper our expectations," Daugherty continued. "I want them to enjoy their time, and be happy to be out there. In every single sense, this team epitomizes the Division III model and exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete and play for the love of sports. No matter what the outcome is each week, I just hope we enjoy being together."