(Left) WWU freshman Jordan Lee holds the individual lead heading into Tuesday’s final round at 9-under-par. (Right) Lacy Sheldon continued the solid start to her WWU career with a 1-under-par 72 on Monday. PHOTOS: WWU Athletics
WWU Golf: Big Monday for Men & Women
October 8, 2018
VIKINGS HOLD DOMINATING 17-STROKE LEAD AT CONCORDIA INVITATIONAL
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Western Washington University men’s golf team picked right back up where it left off after a week off from competition, opening up a 17-stroke lead on the field after the first two rounds of the Concordia Invitational played Monday at Columbia Edgewater Country Club.
The No. 14 nationally-ranked Vikings turned in a team score of 7-under-par 561, with rounds of 280 (-4) in the morning and 281 (-3) in the afternoon on a rainy day in Portland. The Vikings, winners of the first two tournaments of the season, are 17 strokes ahead of second-place Simon Fraser (+10, 578) heading into Tuesday’s final round, with tournament host Concordia in third place (+13, 581).
“I am really happy with how the guys battled through tough conditions today,” said head coach Luke Bennett. “It rained from start to finish and the rough was brutal, but the guys hung in there and got great results.”
Freshman Jordan Lee (Tacoma, WA/Bellarmine Prep) torched the par 71, 6,823-yard layout with rounds of 67 (-4) and 66 (-5) to hold the lead for individual medalist honors at 9-under-par 133. Lee led the 43-player field with 12 birdies, and made only three bogeys over the 36 holes.
“It was a really special day of solid golf from Jordan,” added Bennett. “He managed his game extremely well and poured in a bunch of putts today.”
Senior Michael Butler (Sammamish, WA/Skyline) is tied for 3rd at 1-under-par after rounds of 72 (+1) and 69 (-2) to sit at 141 for the tournament. Junior Ethan Casto (Snohomish, WA) is also in the top 10 at 4-over-par 146 to tie for 8th place.
Tuesday’s final round is set to begin with an 8 am shotgun start, with the Vikings paired with Simon Fraser and Concordia starting on holes 1-5.
WWU’s scores and the team leaderboard after the first two rounds of the Concordia Invitational are as follows:
VIKINGS IN 2ND PLACE AFTER FIRST ROUND OF WWU INVITATIONAL
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women’s golf team is in second place through the first round of the 2018 WWU Invitational played Monday on a drizzly day at Bellingham Golf & Country Club.
The Vikings fired a team score of 12-over-par 304 and head into Tuesday’s final round six strokes back of tournament leader Sonoma State (+6, 298). The University of British Columbia (+18, 310) is six strokes back of WWU in third place, with Concordia (+21, 313) and Simon Fraser (+22, 314) rounding out the top five of the 13-team field.
“Our goal is to continue to make positive strides moving forward and to get better with each round,” said head coach Bo Stephan. “We will try to build off today’s round and be a little sharper tomorrow. Today was a good start, but we’ll need to put together a really good round tomorrow if we want to make a push for that top spot.”
WWU junior Lacy Sheldon (Dallas, TX/Legacy Christian/Montevallo) is in a three-way tie for first place for individual medalist honors, firing a 1-under-par 72 in the first round. Sheldon carded her third round (out of 5) this season at par or better, recording three birdies, two bogeys and 13 pars on Monday. After bogeying the par 5 7th hole, Sheldon played her final 11 holes at 1-under-par.
“Lacy has been amazingly consistent so far this season, and today was no different,” added Stephan. “She is almost making it easy on herself with consistent shots, giving her a chance for a lot of birdie and, at worst, par opportunities.”
Sheldon is tied with Victoria’s Nicole Gargarella and fellow Texan Megan Daleo (Plano, TX) of Sonoma State.
Six of WWU’s seven golfers that competed Monday, including two as individuals, scored in the 70s. In addition to Sheldon’s sub-par round, junior Brianna Esvelt (Kennewick, WA/Kamiakin/Columbia Basin College) is situated in the top 10 after a 3-over-par 76.
Senior Hannah Drake (Pocatello, ID/Century) is tied for 12th playing as an individual at 4-over-par 77, and seniors Nicole Miller (Renton, WA/Kennedy Catholic/North Idaho College) and Annie Leete (Oak Harbor, WA) are tied for 18th at 5-over-par 78. All four of WWU’s scoring players from the first round are in the top 20 of the 72-player field.
Tuesday’s second round is scheduled to begin with a 9 am shotgun start, with live scoring available at Golfstat.com. WWU, Sonoma State and British Columbia will be paired together starting on holes 1-4.
Here is a look at WWU’s scores and the team standings from the first day of the WWU Invitational.
-- WWU Women’s Golf --
