VISTA, Calif. – Playing in its second spring tournament, the Western Washington University women's golf team is in 13th place out of 19 teams following the first round of the Fujikura Invitational at Shadowridge Country Club.

 

The Vikings are situated in a tightly packed middle of the leaderboard after shooting an opening-round team score of 34-over-par 322. WWU is just eight strokes back of eighth place heading into Tuesday's final round.

 

WWU is led by sophomore Elise Sumner, who carded a 5-over-par 77 in her 2021-22 debut. The 2020-21 GNAC Player of the Year was out for the fall season and last appeared in a collegiate tournament during the NCAA II Championships in May 2021.

 

Junior Megan Billeter is tied for 25th following a 6-over-par 78 and reigning GNAC Golfer of the Week sophomore Claire Moon is tied for 36th at 7-over-par 79.

 

Tournament host Cal State San Marcos leads the field with a team score of 12-over-par 300 while playing on its home course, followed closely by No. 5 nationally-ranked Barry at 15-over-par 303 and No. 1 Lynn at 16-over-par 304. The 19-team field features five teams ranked in the top 25 nationally and nine teams in the top 50 in the Golfstat Relative Team Rankings.

 

Diana Delgado of Cal State San Marcos leads the 100-player field after firing a 2-under-par 70 on the 6,110, par 72 layout. 

 

Tuesday's final round is scheduled for an 8 am shotgun start with the Vikings teeing off holes 12-14 while paired with Chico State, Holy Names and Westminster. The live leaderboard can be followed online by pointing your web browser to wwuvikings.com/WG_Live.

 

Here is a look at WWU's individual results and the team leaderboard following the first round of the Fujikura Invitational hosted by Cal State San Marcos at Shadowridge Golf & Country Club in Vista, California:

 

 

Following the Fujikura Invitational, the Vikings will take a few weeks off and get back into competition at the Palm Valley Classic in Goodyear, Arizona April 1-2 and then the GNAC Championships April 18-19 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Here is a look at the complete 2021-22 schedule for the WWU Women's Golf program, which includes four fall and three spring tournaments leading up to the GNAC Championships. All tournament recaps, season statistics and program history can be found on WWUVikings.com/WGolf.

 

 

The WWU women's golf team begins its 29th season as an intercollegiate sport in 2021-22. WWU has a rich history on the links, winning the first five GNAC Championships beginning in 2011 and returned to the podium in 2021. WWU has made 11 appearances in the NCAA II West Regional Championships. WWU has also made six trips to the NCAA II National Championships. A Viking has been named the GNAC Player of the Year in eight of the 10 years it has been awarded, including 2020-21 Player of the Year Elise Sumner. 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 produced nine All-Americans.