March 30, 2004

GOODYEAR, Ari. - Western Washington University freshman Katie Bender (Tacoma/Bellarmine Prep) placed sixth in medalist play and the Vikings tied for the second-lowest round of the day as they moved up two spots to place eighth among 18 teams in the Grand Canyon University Invitational Women's Golf Tournament that ended Tuesday at the par 72, 5,970-yard Palm Valley Golf Course.

The Vikings, ranked No.6 nationally in the latest Golfstat/NCAA Division II report, shot a final-round 309, 13 strokes better than Monday's opening round, to finish with a 36-hole total of 631.

"I'm probably the happiest coach who ever finished in eighth place," said Western coach Dean Russell. "It was a tremendous effort today. We went out and played with a lot of determination, knowing that a lot of what's going to happen with the regional tournament selections was on the line.

"This gives us a good chance of staying in that fifth or sixth spot. Today, we played with the big guns real well, and we beat some of the teams we had to beat in head-to-head matchups. We still have a little more work to do in three weeks when we host our own invitational."

Western New Mexico, ranked No.5 nationally, took team honors at 618 (312-316), three strokes ahead of No.3 St. Mary's TX at 621 (312-309). British Columbia placed third (316-309=625), Northeastern Oklahoma State fourth (309-318=627) and No.11 Central Oklahoma fifth (312-316=628). Tied for sixth (629) were No.10 Tarleton State (320-309) and NCAA Division I Northern Colorado (314-315).

Bender shot a 5-over par 77 to finish at 153, just three strokes behind the leader.

Western's Kelly White (Sr., Monroe) carded an even par 72, 14 shots better than her first-round score, to tie for 21st at 158.

Rounding out the Vikings' scores were Sarah Cooper (Sr., Marysville/Archbishop Murphy), who tied for 40th at 162 (85-77), Candice Wagner (So., Milton/Fife), who tied for 46th at 164 (81-83) and Katja Trygg (So., Bainbridge Island), who tied for 50th at 165 (80-85).

Taking medalist honors at 150 was Northern Colorado's Emily Russell (75-75). That was one shot better than Allison Toomer from Northeastern Oklahoma State and Elizabeth Reid from St. Mary's, who tied for second.

Western ends its regular season on Apr. 19-20, hosting the Viking Invitational at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club.