Monday, April 18, 2016

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Sophomore Michelle Waters put together her best round of the season to take the early lead Monday as she led Simon Fraser to the first round lead of the 2016 GNAC Women’s Golf Championships at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course.

Waters shot 3-over-par 74, her season best by three strokes, to take the individual lead after 18 holes. Teammate Breanna Croxen is one of three players tied for second, sitting two strokes back at 5-over-par 76.

The duo led the Clan to the first round team lead with a score of 308. Western Washington, the five-time defending champion, is four strokes back in second place at 312 while Northwest Nazarene sits in third with a score of 321.

Waters benefited from a solid front nine where she finished with only two holes over par along with a birdie on the par-3 fifth hole, and finished the round with three straight pars. Croxen, meanwhile, shot identical scores of 38 on the front nine and back nine and also benefited from a birdie on the fifth hole.

Montana State Billings’ Bailee Dexter and Saint Martin’s Sarah Salvatori join Croxen in the three-way tie for second place. Dexter also shot 38 on both the front and back nine, carding a birdie on the par-4 13th hole. Salvatori also shot 38s, capitalizing on a birdie on the par-4 seventh hole.

Western Washington is in the team hunt thanks to banking three players in fifth and sixth place. Kristen Hansen leads the Vikings, currently in fifth place with a 6-over-par 77. Hannah Drake and Audrey Orem are tied for sixth along with Concordia’s Kelsey Whiles at 7-over-par 78.

Concordia and Montana State Billings are tied for fourth place with scores of 323 and Saint Martin’s is in sixth place at 324.

The final round of the GNAC Women’s Golf Championships will begin on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. The women’s groups will begin on the No. 10 hole.