NEWBERG, Ore. - The Lewis & Clark women's golf team finds itself in fifth place after the opening round of the Northwest Conference Fall Classic with a team score of 354.
The opening round began on Satruday morning but poor weather in the area forced the conference to suspend play for player safety concerns. The round was picked up Sunday morning with the second round beginning later this afternoon.
Sophomore Arielle Valdez leads the Pioneers with an 81, which puts her in a two-way tie for fifth place. Sydney Maluenda and Melissa Nugent of Geroge Fox are currently the tournament leaders with an opening round 76. Phoebe Nguyen of Whitman is in third (78) and Loreece Magsanide of GFU is in fourth (79).
Claire Burke was the next Pioneer finisher with an 87 which puts her in a three-way tie for 17th place. Sofia Vigil finished with a 92 (t-23rd), while Abbi Rautenberg rounded out the team score with a 94 (27th). Jessica Rosenblatt ended the round with a 112.
The host Bruins are currently in first place with a 316, while Whitman is in second place (332) and Whitworth is in third (344). Willamette is two strokes ahead of the Pioneers in fourth place (352), Lewis & Clark is in fifth, Pacific Lutheran is in sixth (357), Pacific is in seventh (414) and Puget Sound is in eighth (429). Linfield failed to turn in a team score.
The teams return to the course at 11 a.m. on Sunday for the conclusion of the first of three NWC Championship tournaments.
