COEUR d'ALENE, Idaho – The Western Washington University women's golf team is in 2nd place through the first round of the 2022 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships played Monday at the Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.

 

The defending champion Vikings battled windy and cold conditions on the par 71 layout on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene to shoot a 23-over-par team round of 307. WWU trails leader Simon Fraser by just two strokes heading into Tuesday's final round, which is scheduled to begin at 7:30 am. The Vikings are 10 strokes ahead of third-place Northwest Nazarene.

 

The Vikings were led by a pair of solid performances by sophomores Elise Sumner and Dani Bailey, who each turned in rounds of 5-over-par 76. Sumner played her final eight holes at even par and played her final 13 holes at just 2-over-par. 

 

Junior Megan Billeter got off to a hot start playing the first nine holes at even-par en route to her 6-over-par 77 to tie for 5th place. Billeter recorded four birdies to tie for the most in the field. Senior Sarah Shea is at 7-over-par 78 to tie for 9th place.

 

Natasha Kozlowski of Simon Fraser played her final six holes at 2-under-par to take a one-stroke lead for individual medalist honors into Tuesday's final round.

 

The live leaderboard can be followed online by pointing your web browser to wwuvikings.com/WG_Live.

W⛳️ | Watch @WWUGolf tee off to begin the opening round of the GNAC Championships Monday at Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.

📊 : https://t.co/wO9fO83DKh pic.twitter.com/HT1pkmzkBQ
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) April 18, 2022

 

Here is a look at WWU's individual results and the team leaderboard following the first round of the 2022 GNAC Championships at Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course:

 

 

The Vikings have won six of the 10 GNAC Women's Golf Championships since the event debuted in 2011. WWU won five consecutive conference championships from 2011-15 and returned to the top spot on the podium last season in 2021. WWU has featured the individual medalist in each of first five winning years, and again in 2019 when Lacy Overstreet won the tournament. WWU also placed 2nd in 2016 and 2017, and 3rd in 2018 and 2019.

 

Championships Quick Facts:

Course: Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course

Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID

Championships Format: 36 Holes (18 on Monday, 18 on Tuesday)

Par: 71   Yardage: 5,707 Yards

Teams (5): WWU, Simon Fraser, Saint Martin's, Montana State Billings, Northwest Nazarene

Field Size: 25

 

GNAC Team Champions:

2011 - Western Washington (620)

2012 - Western Washington (631)

2013 - Western Washington (625)

2014 - Western Washington (641)

2015 - Western Washington (627)

2016 - Simon Fraser (617)

2017 - Simon Fraser (616)

2018 - Concordia (611)

2019 - Simon Fraser (613)

2020 - No Tournament (COVID-19)

2021 - Western Washington (627)

Courses: 2011-2019 – Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course; 2021 – The Home Course

 

GNAC Individual Champions:

2011 - Sophie Elstrott, Western Washington - 150 (75-75)

2012 - Claire Rachor, Western Washington - 153 (77-76)

2013 - Kara Zitzman, Western Washington - 151 (75-76)

2014 - Anna Bourland, Western Washington - 156 (78-78)

2015 - Kritsten Hansen, Western Washington - 152 (76-76)

2016 - Michelle Waters, Simon Fraser - 151 (74-77)

2017 - Emily Leung, Simon Fraser -147 (70-77)

2018 - Caitlyn Villatora, Concordia - 149 (74-75)

2019 - Lacy Overstreet, Western Washington - 145 (73-72)

2020 - No Tournament (COVID-19)

2021 - Kathryn Crimp, Saint Martin's 153 (77-76)

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.