Monday, May 3, 2021

DENTON, Texas – Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion Western Washington sits in ninth place on the team leaderboard after the first round of the NCAA Division II West Regional on Monday at the Wildhorse Golf Club at Robson Ranch in Denton, Texas.

Western Washington finished the round with a score of 319, two strokes back of eighth-place Westminster (Utah). The Vikings were led by freshman Elise Sumner, a two-time First Team All-GNAC selection and the 2020-21 GNAC Women’s Golf Player of the Year. Sumner carded a 6-over-par 78 to finish in a four-way tie for 29th place. Her round included 10 pars and a birdie on the par-five eighth hole.

Sophomore Sarah Shea, a first-team selection this season, finished just behind Sumner at 7-over-par 79 to sit in a four-way tie for 33rd place. Shea had a birdie on the 13th hole and six straight pars on the front nine.

Junior Kolby Heggenes, the GNAC Newcomer of the Year, finished at 8-over-par 80 to tie for 37th place. Freshmen first-team selections Sophia Schmidt and Dani Bailey, the GNAC Freshman of the Year, round out the Vikings in a tie for 44th place at 10-over-par 82.

St. Mary’s (Texas) leads the field after the first round with a score of 289 while West Texas A&M (294) and Dallas Baptist (295) are not far back. Sofia Ruescas of St. Mary’s will enter the second round with a one-stroke lead over Dallas Baptist’s Hanna Harrison for first place at 4-under-par 68.

Play will resume Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in Denton as a strong West Region field returns for second-round action.