Sept. 24, 2013

PHOENIX, Ari. - Western Washington University's Kristen Hansen (So., Spokane/Mead) placed third in medalist play, one shot behind the co-champions, as the Vikings finished fourth among 18 teams at the Western New Mexico University Women's Golf Invitational which ended Tuesday at the Coldwater Golf Course.

WWU, which led by six strokes after Monday's first round, finished four shots behind team champion Chico State. The Wildcats fired a blistering 292, the best round of the tourney by 14 strokes, to move from eighth to first with a 36-hole total of 613.

That was one stroke better than Oklahoma Christian (306) and Northeastern State OK (306) which tied for second at 614.

The Vikings shot 315 for a 617 total.

Hansen, who fired a 2-under 70 on Monday, shot 78 for a 148 total.

That was one stroke off the pace of Audra Kepler (70) and Arinda Bhanaraksa (73), both from Cal State Monterey Bay, who tied for first at 147.

WWU's Anna Bourland (Jr., Bainbridge) tied for 16th at 154 (81). Brooke Branigan (Fr., Bellingham) tied for 30th at 158 (78), and Audrey Orem (Fr., Bellingham) tied for 32nd at 159 (80).

The Vikings' Emily Koryto (So., East Lansing, MI) placed 47th at 162 (79).

WWU next competes at the Saint Martin's Invitational on Oct. 7-8.