By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

WOODBURN, ORE. -- Whitney Ueno (Jr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) of Willamette University shot a low round of 80 each day to win the individual championship at the Willamette Invitational, held on March 15-16 at the Oregon Golf Association (OGA) Golf Course. Ueno carded a score of 160 for the 36-hole tournament to win by three strokes. Pacific University won the team title with an overall score of 717 (356-361).

Ueno was followed on the leader board by Brynn Hurdus of Linfield College, who finished second after shooting 163 (82-81). Kelly Hartley of Pacific University took third place at 171 (86-85). Fourth place went to Sarah Bicker from the University of Puget Sound with a score of 174 (89-85). Angela Grossklaus of Pacific Lutheran University finished fifth at 177 (89-88).

Maresa Jenson of Puget Sound took sixth place by completing the two rounds in 178 strokes (89-89). Brittany Johnston of Linfield and LeAnna Nash of Pacific tied for seventh at 182, with both golfers shooting 94-88. Valerie Kitamori from Pacific was ninth at 184 (89-95), while Katie Kilborn of Linfield (95-95) and Lauren Yoshimura of Pacific (97-93) tied for 10th place at 190.

Pacific won the team title by nine strokes. The Boxers began the day with a six-stroke lead over Linfield and a nine-stroke lead over Puget Sound.

UPS claimed second place with a score of 726 (365-361), as the Loggers rallied past Linfield in the second round. Linfield finished third at 728 (362-366), Pacific Lutheran University took fourth at 798 (404-394), Willamette was fifth at 833 (426-407) and Corban College was sixth at 876 (446-430). Lewis & Clark did not field a complete team.

Following Ueno on Willamette's team scorecard was Ashley Buchheit (Sr., Mt. Angel, OR/John F. Kennedy HS). Buchheit recorded an overall score of 208 (99-109). Andrea Hand (Jr., Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro HS) was WU's third finisher with a score of 226 (120-106).

The Bearcats will play again March 28-29, when they compete at the Northwest Conference Spring Classic at the Quail Valley Country Club in Banks, Ore. The Spring Classic counts for one-quarter of the overall NWC title.