BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's golf team got off to a great start hosting their only home event of the season sitting in second place through the first round of the WWU Invitational.

 

WWU is in second place in the seven-team field through the first 18 holes of the 36-hole tournament, firing a team round of 11-over-par 299 with all five players breaking 80 on the scorecard. The Vikings enter Tuesday's final round four shots off the team lead trailing UBC Okanagan, which fired a first-round 7-over-par 295 on the par 72 layout.

 

"A great start to the tournament for us today. Sometimes it is not as easy as it seems to play on your home course, but the team pushed that aside and turned in great scores," said WWU Director of Golf Luke Bennett. "I've seen these scores out of the team during practice rounds, which is encouraging because they are taking that into the competition rounds. I am looking forward to seeing the competitive fire they bring into tomorrow's final round."

 

Sophomore Emma Worgum led the Vikings with an even-par 72 in the opening round to tie for second place in individual medalist honors. Worgum carded three birdies in the first round and will play the final 18 holes looking for the individual title. 

 

"Emma played a solid, consistent round to lead our team today," said Bennett. "She seemed to be in control from the start and it was fun to watch her tempo on the course today."

 

Senior Dani Bailey was one stroke back of Worgum with a 1-over-par 73, just missing her career collegiate low round. Bailey birdied two of her final three holes to help the Vikings to the standout round.

 

"Dani really had a strong finish which boosted us in the team standings," said Bennett. "I know this is the type of golf she can play on a consistent basis, and it was wonderful to see in her final home tournament."

 

Sophomore transfer Lauren Lee is tied for 12th place at 4-over-par 76 and senior Claire Moon is tied for 18th in the 37-player field at 6-over-par 78. Sophomore Kasey Maralack had a strong back nine to record a 7-over-par 79 to sit in a tie for 24th place.

 

UBC Okanagan is four strokes up on WWU in the team standings, with Simon Fraser three strokes back of the Vikings heading into the final round. Emily Cornwall holds the individual lead following a 1-under-par 71, with Worgum in a three-way tie for second place with Claire Shubin of Dominican and Julia Alexander-Carew of UBC Okanagan.

The WWU Invitational concludes Tuesday with the seven-team field teeing off beginning with a 9 am shotgun start. The Vikings will be paired with UBC Okanagan and Simon Fraser starting on holes 10-11-12 at Bellingham Golf & Country Club.

 

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

 

Here is a look at the Vikings 2023-24 fall tournament schedule for the WWU Women's Golf program, in addition to the listing of spring postseason tournaments. All tournament recaps, season statistics and program history can be found on WWUVikings.com/WGolf.

 

W⛳️ | The 2023 WWU Women's Golf Invitational opens play Monday with the first 18 holes of the 36-hole tournament at Bellingham Golf & Country Club.

📊 : https://t.co/wO9fO8lMYp pic.twitter.com/PpDp5Le9lf
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) October 9, 2023
  

The WWU women's golf team is in its 31st season as an intercollegiate sport in 2023-24. 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 12 years it has been awarded, including 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.