BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's golf team continued its solid start to the 2022-23 fall season holding a four-stroke lead through the first round of the 16-team WWU Invitational.

 

WWU wrapped up the first day of the two-day tournament at 8-over-par 296 to tie for the 10th-best single-round team score in program history. In their last round to win the Saint Martin's Invitational September 23-24, the Vikings recorded the fourth-lowest round at 5-over-par 293.

 

"I am extremely happy with our play today. Our entire team contributed to a great team score," said WWU Director of Golf Luke Bennett. "Even after a two week break between tournaments, they have picked right back up where they left off. Even after a bit of a slow start today, they rebounded and put up some really great numbers."

 

The Vikings hold a four-stroke lead over the University of British Columbia (+12, 300) and nine strokes ahead of third-place UBC Okanagan (+17, 305). Holy Names (+18, 306) and Simon Fraser (+19, 307) round out the top five in the 16-team field.

 

Junior Claire Moon is in a three-way tie for first place in the 90-player field, turning in the lowest round of her WWU career at 1-under-par 71. Moon paced the field with six birdies in Monday's opening round.

 

"Just a really great opening round from Claire," said Bennett. "She carded six birdies and could have had a few more."

 

Senior Megan Billeter and junior Elise Sumner are tied for sixth place with matching scores of 1-over-par 73. Both players overcame a mildly slow start to finish the first 18 holes in the top 10, with both players playing the final 12 holes at 3-under-par.

 

"Megan and Elise continue to be just really steady on the course," added Bennett. "Both played the back nine at 3-under-par and had some really great stretches of golf."

 

In addition to the starting five, the Vikings also have three individuals playing in the tournament. Freshman Kasey Maralack is tied for 21st place at 5-over-par 77.

 

Moon is tied for the lead with Taylor Stewart of Chico State and Lavinia Romito of Holy Names for the individual medalist honors. 

 

Tuesday's final round begins with a 9 am shotgun start with the Vikings teeing off holes 1-3 and paired with British Columbia and UBC Okanagan. The WWU Invitational live leaderboard can be viewed online through Golfstat at wwuvikings.com/WG_Live.

W⛳️ | Scenes from Bellingham Golf & Country Club where the first round of the 2022 WWU Invitational is underway.

Follow the action via the @Golfstat Live Leaderboard:

📊 : https://t.co/wO9fO8lMYp pic.twitter.com/OuaHQ9WNRL
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) October 10, 2022

Here is a look at WWU's individual results and the team leaderboard following first round of the 2022 WWU Invitational played at Bellingham Golf & Country Club:

 

Here is a look at the Vikings 2022-23 fall schedule for the WWU Women's Golf program. All tournament recaps, season statistics and program history can be found on WWUVikings.com/WGolf.

 

 

The WWU women's golf team is in its 30th season as an intercollegiate sport in 2022-23. WWU has a rich history on the links, winning the first five GNAC Championships beginning in 2011 and returned to the podium with back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. WWU made its 12th appearance in the NCAA II West Regional Championships in 2022 after earning the GNAC's automatic bid. WWU has also made six trips to the NCAA II National Championships. A Viking has been named the GNAC Player of the Year in nine of the 11 years it has been awarded, including 2020-21 Player of the Year Elise Sumner and 2021-22 award winner Megan Billeter. WWU has also produced the only two players in GNAC history to earn four First Team All-GNAC awards (Jenn Paul and Kristen Hansen) and has had nine All-Americans.