SPOKANE, Wash. - The Whitworth golf teams head into the next couple of weekends focused on competing well at the 2007 NWC Women's and Men's Tournaments. The Whitworth men are two-time defending conference champions, but head into the tournament one point behind Linfield in the current standings. The Pirate women are in fourth place heading into the tournament, their best position ever. Click here for the current NWC standings. The men and women warmed up for the NWC tournaments by competing in the spring half of the Spokane Cup, a match-play event between Whitworth, Gonzaga and CC of Spokane. The Pirate men finished second overall, while the women finished third - despite a much stronger showing in the spring than in the fall. Complete men's results / Complete women's results (PDF) The Whitworth men are rounding into form in time to defend their team title at the NWC Championships. The Pirates tied Linfield at the NWC Spring Classic with a come-from-behind finish to force a winner-take-all finish at the NWC tournament. Linfield has 13.5 points in the standings, while the Pirates have 12.5. A team will earn two points for every team it finishes ahead of at the NWC tournament. Andrew Parrott is the defending tournament champion, while Jordan Carter was also an All-NWC honoree. The tournament will be April 22-23 at Tokatee GC in Blue River, Oregon. The Pirates won their in 2005, and then defended their title by winning at Aspen Lakes in Sisters, Oregon last April. The Whitworth women have 11 points heading into the NWC Tournament, which will be April 14-15 at Aspen Lakes in Sisters. The Pirates trail UPS (15), Linfield (13) and Willamette (12). Whitworth finished ahead of Willamette at the NWC Spring Tournament and could overtake the Bearcats, and even Linfield, with a very strong showing this weekend. The Pirates have never finished higher than sixth previously. The four players, all freshmen, have improved dramatically from the fall to the spring. Both Alicia Bratlien and Krystal Pitkonen have posted top five individual finishes at tournaments this spring. Go to Athletics Home Page > Golf > Sports Releases > |
