March 22, 2012
Results
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - Claire Rachor (Jr., Bellingham) shot a 1-over par 73 to tie for the individual lead, helping the Western Washington University women's golf team sit second in a 10-team field after Thursday's opening round in the Augustana University Spring Fling at Desert Princess Country Club.
As a team, the Vikings, ranked No.19 in the latest National Golf Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Top 25, shot a 25-over par 313, and are just six shots behind St. Edward's, Tex., which is at 306. Host Augustana is third with a 315.
Rachor, who tied her season-best round, is tied with Maggie Leland of Augustana for the lead.
"Overall, I was pretty pleased," said Western coach Bo Stephan. "Claire had our round of the day. She made some birdies and hit the ball well."
Alexandria Taylor (Sr., Sammamish/Eastlake) is tied for 10th after shooting a 79. Kara Zitzman (Jr., Woodinville/Redmond) had an 80 for the Vikings, Sophie Elstrott (Sr., Eugene, OR/South Eugene) shot an 81, and Anna Bourland (R-Fr., Bainbridge) had an 88.
"I'm looking forward to Friday," Stephan said. "We're right in it and this is a course we can play well."
Friday's final round begins at noon.
