May 7, 2008

Complete Results

PHOENIX, AZ - Western Washington University lost a three-shot lead over the last nine holes, but still earned a trip to nationals by placing second at the NCAA Division II Women's Golf West Regional which ended Wednesday at The Legacy Golf Resort.

The Vikings shot a final-round 298 to finish the three-day, 54-hole event at 914. That was four strokes behind Tarleton State TX, which had a 3-over par 291, the best round of the tournament, to take its second straight title with a winning score of 910.

Saint Martin's finished third (319=940) in the six-team field, followed by St. Edward's TX (318=941), Northeastern State OK (316=945) and Western New Mexico (337=968).

Western was fourth, trailing by seven shots, after Monday's first round, but came back to take a three-stroke lead after shooting 297 Tuesday.

"I'm ecstatic," said Viking coach Bo Stephan. "The second day we needed to play a great round of golf and we did. And then today, with all the pressure in the world on them, to shoot basically the same number is awesome.

"I'm happy not just that we're going to nationals, but that each of the women is playing at such a high level."

Western's Kaitlin Parker (Jr., Burlington/Marysville-Pilchuck) shot 1-over par 73 to tie for fifth place at 226 with Breanna Carmichael (So., Tacoma/Bellarmine Prep), who had a final-round 76.

The Vikings' Catherine Kim (Sr., Bellevue/Skyline) placed 13th at 232 (78), Allison Gillette (Sr., Seattle/Ballard) fired a 1-under 71 to place 15th at 235 and Lianne Matkin (So., Spokane/Northwest Christian) tied for 18th at 240 (81).

Tarleton State's Shraddhanjali Singh took medalist honors finished with a 3-under 69 to take medalist honors at 218. That was three strokes better than Northeastern State's Stephanie Bird (75).

The NCAA II National Championships are May 13-16 at Memorial Golf Course in Houston, Texas.

It will be the fourth national appearance as a NCAA member for Western, which has placed fifth in each of its three previous trips. The Vikings tied for the regional title in 2005 and finished second in 2004 and 2006. It is the sixth national trip overall for Western, which placed eighth at the NAIA Championships in 1998 and 10th in 1997.

The Vikings finished among the top three in five of nine regular-season tournaments, winning four times and placing second once.