May 12, 2004

NCAA II National Championship Live Scoring

LONGWOOD, Fla. - Struggling on the final two holes, the Western Washington University women's golf team is sixth among eight teams following first-round action Wednesday at the NCAA Division II National Championships being played at The Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes.

The tournament continues through Saturday.

The Vikings had a first-day score of 36-over par 324 on the par 72, 5,994-yard course.

"The wind came up on hole No.11, and it just changed this whole place," said Western coach Dean Russell. "The wind here in Florida swirls, and that made it very tough.

"But everybody had their difficulties with it. I'm very pleased with our play in that we hung in there."

The Vikings lost 12 strokes to par on the final two holes.

"Strategically, we're going to have to play those a little differently," Russell said. "We started off very well, and were at 308 pace at the turn.

"Everybody had a good round going ... It wasn't so much from bad swings, but bad breaks with the wind."

Defending national champion and No.1-rated Rollins FL is the first-round leader by nine strokes at 16-over 304. Northeastern State OK is second at 313, one stroke in front of Ferris State MI.

Just six strokes separate the next four places.

Grand Valley State is fourth at 320 and St. Cloud State MN fifth at 322, two strokes ahead of Western. In seventh place is Florida Southern at 326, and Minnesota State-Mankato is eighth at 331.

Western was led by Kelly White (Sr., Monroe), who is tied for ninth after shooting 5-over 77. She placed 10th at nationals last year.

Sarah Cooper (Sr., Marysville/Archbishop Murphy) and Katja Trygg (So., Bainbridge Island) are in a group tied for 29th at 82. Candice Wagner (Jr., Milton/Fife) is tied for 33rd at 83 and Katie Bender (Fr., Tacoma/Bellarmine Prep) is 41st at 84.

"You don't win or lose tournaments the first two days," said Russell. "You try to get yourself in position to make a move in the third round, and hopefully have a chance to win in the fourth round."

Northern Kentucky's Kim Keyer-Scott is first in medalist play at even par 72, two shots ahead of Rollins' Mariana De Biase and Elena Robles of Ferris State.

Western earned a berth at nationals by placing second in the West Regional, making up a 13-stroke deficit in the final round.