April 26, 2004

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - For the second straight year, Western Washington University will compete in the NCAA Division II National Women's Golf Championship. The Vikings were one of six teams selected for the NCAA II West Regional to be held May 4-5 at the University Golf Course in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Western made the school's first NCAA II national appearance last year, placing third at regionals. It will be the Vikings' fourth trip to nationals overall as they went twice when affiliated with the NAIA, placing eighth in 1998 and 10th in 1997.

Western is the No.6 seed at this year's West Regional. Completing the field are No.1-seed Saint Mary's TX, No.2 seed and host Western New Mexico, No.3 seed and defending champion Northeastern State OK, No.4 seed Central Oklahoma and No.5 seed Tarleton State TX.

"We're elated," said Western coach Dean Russell. "I feel that we're very deserving of the selection and have a great opportunity to go back there and move on."

The Vikings are No.12 in the latest Golfstat/NCAA II national rating. Saint Mary's is No.2, Northeastern State No.5, Western New Mexico No.6, Tarleton State No.9, and Central Oklahoma No.10.

The top two teams, along with the top two individuals not with a qualifying team, from each of the eight regionals, advance to the NCAA II National Championship on May 12-15 at The Legacy at Alaqua in Longwood, Florida.

The regional opens with 36 holes on the first day, followed by 18 holes the next day. It is a different format from the 36-hole system used in most women's regular-season tournaments, although Western has done that at its own Viking Invitational the last two years, winning both times.

During the spring, Western won both the Chico State and Viking Invitational tournaments, while placing ninth among 15 teams at the Texas A&M-Commerce Invitational and eighth among 18 teams at the Grand Canyon Invitational.

"We had a bad back nine at the Texas A&M-Commerce tournament, which kind of threw our stride off," Russell said. "But I really felt it was at the Grand Canyon tournament that we really got together as a team and decided what our goals were going to be for the remainder of the season. We played a great second round there, and even though we were eighth, we were only four shots out of third. That proved to be a great stepping stone for us, which carried over to our own invitational."

Kelly White (Sr., Monroe) leads the Vikings with an 80.2 scoring average. Last year, she placed 10th at nationals and fourth at regionals, earning second-team All-America honors. White was an honorable mention All-American as a sophomore.

Completing Western's contingent are Katie Bender (Fr., Tacoma/Bellarmine Prep) 80.7, Viking Invitational medalist Katja Trygg (So., Bainbridge Island) 81.7, Candice Wagner (So., Milton/Fife) 82.1 and Sarah Cooper (Sr., Marysville/Archbishop Murphy) 83.3. Kate Menlove (Jr., Bellevue/Interlake), 85.0. is the alternate.

Cooper, Trygg and Wagner joined White at regionals last year.

"We're playing well and our attitude is good," said Russell. "Kelly (White) had her problems in the beginning, but she's found her swing again. Katie (Bender) has had a tremendous year as a true freshman. Candice (Wagner) has played well, Katja (Trygg) broke through with a tournament win, and Sarah (Cooper) has provided veteran leadership."