Friday, March 22, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. – It's been a busy few weeks for the conference's women's golf teams as the GNAC has been represented at seven different events so far this month. 

Western Washington highlighted the bunch, placing seventh in a field that included four other league members at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout. Both Montana State Billings and Saint Martin's have also impressed as of late, with each recording at least one top-three finish in various single events held in Washington, Nevada and California. 

RECENT TOURNAMENTS
Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout (Mar. 4-5 at Chuck Corica Golf Complex - South Course, Alameda, Calif.): Team – 1, Cal State San Marcos, 598. 7, Western Washington, 624. 8, Concordia, 626. 10, Simon Fraser, 631. 17, Northwest Nazarene, 677. 19, Saint Martin's, 699. Individuals - 1, Megan Daleo, Sonoma State, 142. T6, Jaya Rampuri, Simon Fraser, 149. T11, Shantel Antonio, Concordia, 152. T11, Alli Kim, Northwest Nazarene, 152.

AROUND THE GNAC
CONCORDIA
• The Cavaliers were in action twice in recent weeks, opening with a T8 finish at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout.

• Concordia put together a two-day total of 626 to finish just two strokes behind Western Washington, the highest-placing GNAC team. The performance came on the heels of a solid fourth-place at the Mikuni Sushi Shootout earlier this spring. Senior Shantel Antonio led the way, finishing in a tie for 11th individually after posting scores of 78 and 74.

• The team was in Seaside, Calif. earlier this week for the Otter Invitational, placing fourth as the only GNAC team in the field. Junior Cammie Decker and sophomore Kendall Freeman paced CU with a pair of 19-over-par 163s, finishing in a tie for 14th. 

• It's Decker who leads Concordia in scoring average at 77.2.

• The Cavaliers next event will be their last of the regular season, taking to Rohnert Park, Calif. for the Sonoma State Spring Invitational on April 8-9.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings played twice in recent weeks, posting a pair of top-three finishes at the MJGA Collegiate and Warrior Invitational.

• Senior Shealyn Hafer had the best individual performance, carding a 15-over total of 159 to finish in second place at the MJGA Collegiate in North Las Vegas, Nev. Sophomore Renae Heisler also impressed, finishing just five strokes behind her teammate in a tie for fourth.

• The team has been paced by Hafer throughout the 2018-19 campaign. Her 80.2 scoring average leads MSUB and ranks 10th in the league.

• Up next for Montana State Billings is the Western New Mexico Mustang Invitational at Palm Valley in Goodyear, Ariz. The tournament will run from April 5-6.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• The Nighthawks were in action once in recent weeks, finishing with a 17th place finish at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout.

• Northwest Nazarene put together a two-day total of 677 in Alameda. Still warming up after a long winter, the event was the team's first tournament of the spring season.

• Senior Stephanie Miller led NNU, tallying consistent rounds of 81 and 80. Boise native Natalie Chehimi followed closely behind with a total of 169. 

• Miller currently leads Northwest Nazarene in scoring average at 81.1.

• The Nighthawks next event will be in Rohnert Park, Calif. for the Sonoma State Spring Invitational on April 8-9.

SAINT MARTIN'S
• Saint Martin's played in three tournaments in the last three weeks, highlighted by a third-place showing at the Puget Sound Spring Invitational.

• Freshman Katherine Swor led the way in DuPont, Wash., carding a 14-over total of 158 to finish in second place at The Home Course. Division I transfer TiAnna Ford also finished in the top five, firing a two-day total of 163.

• The team has been paced by Swor throughout the season. Her 85.8 scoring average leads SMU through 12 rounds.

• Up next for Saint Martin's is the Western New Mexico Mustang Invitational at Palm Valley in Goodyear, Ariz. The tournament will run from April 5-6.

SIMON FRASER
• The Clan were in action twice in recent weeks, finishing with a 10th place finish at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout and a 14th place showing in the CSUSM Fujikura Invitational.

• Simon Fraser put together a two-day total of 631 in Alameda. The event marked the team's first tournament of the spring season.

• Junior Jaya Rampuri led SFU, carding solid rounds of 73 and 76. That was good enough for a tie at sixth place against a loaded field at the Chuck Corica Golf Complex.

• Rampuri currently leads Simon Fraser in scoring average at 77.8.

• The Clan's next event will be in Rohnert Park, Calif. for the Sonoma State Spring Invitational on April 8-9.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington played just once in recent weeks, topping the other GNAC teams in the field with a seventh-place showing at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout.

• Sophomore Megan Billeter led the Vikings, carding a 10-over round of 154 to finish tied for 18th. Junior Lacy Sheldon was two strokes back of her teammate and finished in a tie for 29th.

• The team has been paced by Sheldon and senior Nicole Miller throughout the 2018-19 campaign. The pair's 76.6 scoring average currently leads the conference.

• Up next for WWU is the Western New Mexico Mustang Invitational at Palm Valley in Goodyear, Ariz. The tournament will run from April 5-6.

GNAC Women’s Golfer of the Week (Mar. 18, 2019)

Shealyn Hafer (Montana State Billings, Sr., Butte, Mont. – Butte): Hafer tied for eighth place at the Winona State Invitational in Las Vegas, carding a two-round score of 170. Hafer shot one of the lowest scores of the tournament in Tuesday’s opening round, carding a 1-over-par 73, and then survived a second round that saw everyone’s scores inflated due to gusty winds.