COEUR d'ALENE, Idaho – The Western Washington University women's golf team overcame a two-stroke deficit to claim its seventh Great Northwest Athletic Conference title winning the 2022 event by 10 strokes.

 

WWU shot a final round score of 24-over-par 308 on a cold and breezy Tuesday at the Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course. The Vikings repeated as GNAC champions after winning the 2021 title at The Home Course and earns the automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA Division II Championships that will be held May 2-4 in Stockton, California.

 

The Vikings final round team score was 12 strokes better than second-place Simon Fraser, turning the two-stroke deficit to begin the final round into a 10-stroke victory. SFU was 13 shots in front of third-place Northwest Nazarene.

 

"Today was a very special day for WWU golf," said WWU Director of Golf Luke Bennett. "What this team did today in the conditions was pretty impressive. To shoot the score they did in extremely windy conditions and to come from behind to win by 10 strokes is amazing. I am proud of each one of the players for doing this as a team and I am so happy they get to extend their season and play in the NCAA Championships."

 

Sophomore Elise Sumner turned in the lowest round of the 36-hole tournament with a 2-over-par 73 on Tuesday to capture individual medalist honors. The 2021-22 GNAC Player of the Year finished the tournament at 7-over-par 149 for a two-stroke win over teammate Dani Bailey. Sumner has rounded into championship form after missing the fall season due to an injury, becoming the seventh Viking to earn the GNAC individual champion honor.

 

"The golf displayed today by Elise in these conditions was spectacular," added Bennett. "She managed the course extremely well and was very solid in every facet of her game."

 

Bailey was consistent with rounds of 76-75 for a two-round total of 9-over-par 151 to earn runner-up honors. The New Zealand native tied for 2nd in the tournament with a team-best five birdies, including two while recording an even-par final nine holes in the second round.

 

"It was awesome to see Dani stay so calm throughout her round today, showing how great of a player she is," said Bennett. "Her even par on the final nine holes was pretty special."

 

WWU's 615 team score was the third-lowest in the 11-year history of the event. In addition to the current back-to-back championships, the Vikings won five consecutive titles from 2011-15.

 

Junior Megan Billeter added a top-five finish tying for 5th place at 13-over-par 155 with consistent rounds of 77-78. Senior Sarah Shea (13th, +21, 163) and sophomore Claire Moon (T15th, +24, 166) each finished in the top 15 in the 25-player field to cap a solid team performance in the tournament.

 

Both the WWU women's and men's teams won the team title and featured the individual medalist at the 2022 GNAC Golf Championships. Elise Sumner was joined on top of the leaderboard by Aidan Thainand both teams recorded a double-digit stroke victory. This marked the fourth time since 2011 and first since 2013 that the Vikings swept the top team awards at the conference championships.

WWU's tournament total of 615 was the third-lowest in the 10-year history of the event at Coeur d'Alene resort, topped only by 611 by Concordia in 2018 and 613 by Simon Fraser in 2019 … WWU has now won seven of the 11 GNAC Tournaments … Elise Sumner led all players in the tournament with a 2-over-par score on the par 4 holes, was tied for 2nd with 21 pars and tied for 4th with four birdies … Dani Bailey tied for 2nd in the tournament with five birdies and was tied for 4th with 20 pars.

 

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

 

 

The Vikings have now won seven of the 11 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 each of the last two seasons winning back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. WWU has featured the individual medalist in each of first five winning years, and again in 2019 when Lacy Overstreet won the tournament and this season with Elise Sumner adding her name to the elite list. 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)

2022 - Western Washington (615)

 

Courses: 2011-2019, 2022: Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course; 2021: The Home Course * 36-hole tournament

 

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 - Kristen 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)

2022 - Elise Sumner, Western Washington - 149 (76-73)

Here is a look at the complete 2021-22 schedule for the WWU Women's Golf program, which included four fall and three spring tournaments leading up to the GNAC Championships. WWU will next play in the NCAA II West Regional May 2-4 at Brookside Golf & Country Club in Stockton, California. All tournament recaps, season statistics and program history can be found on WWUVikings.com/WGolf.

 

 

The WWU women's golf team is in 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 with back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. WWU will be making 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 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 had nine All-Americans.