DOWNEY, Calif. – The Western Washington University women's golf team opened the spring season Monday with the first round of the LA Spring Kickoff at Rio Hondo Golf Club.

 

After a tough travel day on Saturday due to winter weather in the Northwest didn't allow the Vikings a normal practice round, the team took to the challenge opening with a 28-over-par 312 to sit in a tie for 7th place out of 16 teams.

 

WWU was led by junior Lauren F. Lee carding a 3-over-par 74, highlighted by a one-under-par final nine holes to sit in a tie for 10th place in the 86-player field. Junior Kasey Maralack finished with a 1-over-par back nine to record an 8-over-par 79 to tie for 45th place heading into Tuesday's final round. Freshman Kenzie Walsh also carded an 8-over-par 79, followed by a 9-over-par 80 from junior Emma Worgum.

 

"All things considered after yesterday's travel I thought the ladies played solid to open the spring season," said WWU Director of Golf Luke Bennett. "Lauren F. Lee played a very clean round of golf with all facets of her game looking under control after the winter break. Kasey (Maralack) had a solid back nine, which was great to see her play hard until the final hole. The team is anxious to get back on the course tomorrow for the final round."

 

No. 7 nationally-ranked Cal State San Marcos holds a three stroke lead over tournament host Cal State LA heading into the final round at 6-over-par 290. Joshlyn Ayala of Cal State LA holds the individual lead after firing a 2-under-par 69 with five birdies in the first round.

 

Tuesday's final round begins with a shotgun start at 8 am with the Vikings opening on holes 3-4-5 on the par 71 layout. Fans can follow the live leaderboard via Scoreboard by Clippd online.

 

Here is a look at WWU's final individual results and the team leaderboard following the first round of the LA Spring Kickoff, a 16-team field competing in a 36-hole, two-day competition at Rio Hondo Golf Club in Downey, California:

 

Here is a look at the Vikings 2024-25 fall tournament 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 enters its 32nd season as an intercollegiate sport in 2024-25. 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.