Monday, May 2, 2016

STOCKTON, Calif. – With an impressive all-around team showing, the Western Washington women’s golf team is in second place after the first day of the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf West Super Regional at the Brookside Country Club.

The Vikings were led by a breakout round from their No. 5 golfer, freshman Hannah Drake, who shot a season best round of even-par 72. She had previously played just eight rounds this season, but is tied for seventh place individually after the first day. She birdied four times in 18 holes, including back-to-back birdies on holes five and six and 10 and 11.

Western Washington finished round one with a team score of 295, one stroke behind first place Tarleton State. The Vikings will play three total rounds over as many days on the par-72, 5,931 yard Brookside track.

Junior Brooke Branigan, the Vikings’ No. 4 golfer, finished one stroke behind Drake at 1-over-par 73 and is tied for 12th place. The GNAC Women’s Golf co-Player of the Year Jenn Paul is tied for 22nd place at 3-over-par 75, along with teammate Kristen Hansen. Junior Audrey Orem shot a score of 82 in the first round.

Individual entrant and GNAC co-Player of the Year Jennifer Liedes of Saint Martin’s finished tied for 55th with Orem with a score of 82. Tarleton State’s Isabell Jimenez Perea, Dallas Baptist’s Ann Parmerter and St. Edward’s Ana Sofia Benavides are tied for first individually at 3-under-par 69.

The top three teams and the top three individuals not with a qualifying team from the super regional will advance to the national championships on May 18-21 at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, Colo.