Thursday, March 10, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. - Reigning GNAC co-Player of the Year Jenn Paul has picked up where she left off after her freshman season. A member of the Western Washington women’s golf team and a Bellingham, Wash., native, Paul has led her hometown school successfully into the spring golf season.

Paul took home medalist honors at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout in Vallejo, Calif., on Mar. 7 and 8 with a two-round score of 1-under-par 143. She fired a score of 3-under-par 69 in the second round to earn the individual title and lead Western Washington to second place overall. The Vikings shot 599 as a team, just seven strokes back of first place Sonoma State.

Senior Kristen Hansen and freshman Stephanie Sewell placed in the top-15 for the Vikings. Hansen tied for eighth place with a score of 5-over par 149, while Sewell tied for 13th, shooting 152.

At the same tournament, Simon Fraser freshman Emily Leung was just a stroke away from already winning her second individual title of the season. Leung tied for second at even-par 144 to lead Simon Fraser to an eighth place finish. She previously took medalist honors in her first collegiate tournament, the Saint Martin’s Invitational on Oct. 9 and 10. Her teammate, sophomore Breanna Croxen, sunk a hole-in-one on the 13th hole of the first round. It is already the third hole-in-one this season in all of GNAC golf.

Fellow reigning GNAC co-Player of the Year Jennifer Liedes is also off to a strong start in the spring for Saint Martin’s. She entered 2016 after ending 2015 with back-to-back individual titles. At the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout, Liedes placed 17th with a score of 153 to lead Saint Martin’s to a ninth place finish. She opened the season with a second place finish at the Super San Diego Women’s Golf Championships on Feb. 8 and 9, shooting 5-over-par 149 over two rounds to lead Saint Martin’s to fourth place.

Concordia also competed at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout, placing 12th as a team. The Cavaliers had two top-30 performances, led by junior Lynsie Furuya’s 27th place finish, carding a score of 155. Junior Kelsey Whiles finished just one stroke back, tying for 29th place with a score of 156.

The Cavaliers also took part in the Super San Diego Women’s Golf Championships, placing 12th overall with a score of 714. Furuya paced the team, carding a 169 and placing 40th. Whiles shot the second lowest score at 177 for Concordia once again, placing 52nd. Junior Lindsey Mirabel and senior Patricia Little placed 61st and 64th respectively.

Saint Martin’s and Northwest Nazarene competed at the CBU Women’s Invitational on Feb. 22 and 23 in Corona, Calif. Senior Sarah Salvatori led the Saints to a seventh place finish, carding a score of 163 to tie for 22nd place. Liedes placed 35th, while teammates Lisa Zelasko and Gracie Dyer placed 41st and 47th respectively.

The Crusaders placed 13th overall, led by senior Haley Gochnour’s 35th place finish. Freshman Stephanie Miller carded a score of 170 for 47th place and junior Samantha Miller placed 57th, shooting 172.

Northwest Nazarene was also victorious in a dual match against the College of Idaho on Mar. 9. The Crusaders defeated the Coyotes by 34 strokes with a team score of 38-over 326. Samantha Miller took the individual title, shooting 4-over par 76 to lead the Crusaders to victory. Northwest Nazarene took six of the top seven spots in the match.

Montana State Billings remains the lone team yet to compete in 2016. They will first compete on Mar. 28 and 29 at the MSUB Spring Invitational in Huntley, Mont. Northwest Nazarene hosts the NNU Invitational also on Mar. 28 and 29 and will be joined by Concordia. Western Washington travels to the Otter Invitational on Mar. 21 and 22 in Seaside, Calif, while Simon Fraser will be at the Battle At Primm on the same dates.