ALAMEDA, Calif. – The Western Washington University women's golf team is tied for 9^th place out of 18 teams after the first round of the spring-opening Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout.

 

The Vikings carded an opening-round score of 38-over-par 36 on the par 72 Corica Park South Course. WWU is just six strikes outside of the top five in the tournament. The Pioneer Shootout is a 36-hole, two-day tournament hosted by Cal State East Bay. 

 

Junior Megan Billeter is tied for 12^th place in the 96-player field at 5-over-par 77, recording a pair of birdies to lead the Vikings in the first round.

 

The remaining four players in the Vikings contingent – senior Brianna Esvelt, freshman Elise Sumner, freshman Claire Moon, freshman Sophia Schmidt – are tied for 44^th place at 11-over-par 83. 

 

"Today was a grind with tough conditions. It was very windy and the greens were speedy," said WWU head coach Luke Bennett. "The girls are confident and excited to bounce back tomorrow in the final round."

 

WWU's starting lineup for the Pioneer Shootout consists of three true freshman, one senior and one junior. Team leader and 2018-19 GNAC co-Player of the Year Lacy Overstreet is currently out with an injury. 

 

Nationally No. 12-ranked Cal State San Marcos leads the 18-team tournament with a 16-over-par 304 on Monday, followed two strokes back by Academy of Art (+18, 306). GNAC member schools Concordia (3^rd place, +19) and Simon Fraser (6^th place, +33) are ahead of the Vikings after the first 18 holes.

 

Iveta Posledni of Academy of Art leads the race for individual medalist honors recording a 4-under-par 68 in the first round.

 

WWU will be part of a shotgun start at 8:45 am on Tuesday for the final round, teeing off on holes No. 8, No. 9 and No. 10. The Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout Live Leaderboard can be followed online.

 

Here is a look at WWU's individual results and the team leaderboard following Monday's first round of the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout:

 

 

Here is a look at the remainder of the 2019-20 season schedule and how the Vikings have finished in tournaments during the season:

 

 

The complete 2019-20 season schedule, team roster and past season statistics provided by Golfstatcan be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/WGolf. Fans can also follow the women's golf team via social media posts on twitter at @WWUGolf, Facebook at @WWUWGolf and Instagram at @wwu_womensgolf.