Bearcats Improve by 20 Strokes in Second Round of NWC Fall Classic

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

ALOHA, Ore. -- Willamette University improved its team score by 20 strokes during the second round of the Northwest Conference Fall Classic in women's golf on Sunday, March 28 at The Reserve Vineyard and Golf Club. George Fox University won the team title. Willamette placed eighth overall.

The Bearcats carded a team score of 478 in the first round, but improved to 458 over the final 18 holes. Analyssa Ruiz (Sr./So., Keizer, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) lowered her individual score from 111 to 104, as she finished at 215. Meghan Hook (Jr./So., Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) dropped her score by 16 strokes to complete the tournament at 220 (118-102). Alexis Schwartz (Sr./So., Ontario, OR/Ontario HS) shot 125 in the first round and 121 in the second round for a combined score of 246. Kiki Fierstos (Jr./So., Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) shot 255 for the weekend.

"What can I say that I haven't already," Willamette Head Women's Golf Coach Patrick Daugherty said. "I am really lucky to have four amazing ladies representing us. They shot over 110 strokes better on Round 1 than they did in their first competitive round of the season. Then they followed that up with a 20-stroke improvement today. No one else played 20 strokes better. 

"It's just awesome to watch them continue to grow and progress in their new athletic golf careers," Daugherty added. "They have such a good time together ... I heard them from a hole away cheering each other on and giving big encouragement to each other on a tough green. Regardless of the outcome, it's the attitude and effort that I love."

First place on the individual leaderboard went to Allie Slingsby of George Fox University at 151 (74-77). Alison Takamiya of George Fox was second at 153 (73-80), and Makensie Toole from GFU was third at 156 (77-79). Kamryn Ford of Lewis & Clark College grabbed fourth place at 163 (80-83). GFU's Kaitlyn Tonai was fifth with a score of 166 (82-84) and Madeline Hahn from Whitworth University placed sixth at 171 (86-85). Alexandra McMenamin took seventh place for GFU at 173 (85-88).

George Fox recorded a winning score of 626 (306-320). Whitman College placed second at 723 (359-364). Pacific Lutheran University followed in third at 753 (376-377), while Whitworth was fourth at 756 (378-378). Pacific University attained fifth place at 791 (403-388), the University of Puget Sound took sixth at 819 (396-423), Lewis & Clark was seventh at 867 (438-429), and Willamette finished eighth at 936 (478-458). Linfield College did not field a complete team.

Last semester, the NWC Fall Classic was postponed due to COVID-19. The NWC Spring Classic will be played on Saturday, April 3 and Sunday, April 4 at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington.