April 23, 2012
Results
COEUR d'ALENE, Id. - Western Washington University's Claire Rachor (Jr., Bellingham) is tied for medalist honors, but the Vikings trail leader Saint Martin's University by one stroke in the team standings following Monday's opening round of the second annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championships being played at the Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.
The second and final round of the 36-hole event takes place Tuesday, beginning at 8 a.m.
WWU, the defending champion, shot 323, one shot more than Saint Martin's (322). Montana State Billings is third at 316 and Simon Fraser fourth at 358.
"I thought we were all close today," said WWU coach Bo Stephan (7th year). "I think we will come out confident tomorrow and play well."
Rachor shot 6-over 77 and is tied for the medalist lead with Saint Martin's Mandy Wittmier. In third place, two shots behind, is WWU's Alex Taylor (Sr., Sammamish/Eastlake), who shot 79.
"Claire's round was possibly the best I've seen by one of our players this year," Stephan said.
The Vikings' Sophie Elstrott (Sr., Eugene, OR/South Eugene), last year's medalist, is ninth (83), Brittany Wilcox (Sr., Spokane/Mead) is tied for 10th (84) and Kara Zitzman (Jr., Woodinville/Redmond) is 19th (99).
WWU is ranked No.22 in the latest Golf World/National Golf Coaches Association Top 25.
