University Place, Wash. - Whitworth took a giant step toward securing the first Northwest Conference women's golf title in school history on Tuesday when the Pirate women pulled away to win the NWC Spring Classic at Chambers Bay Golf Course. The win, combined with Whitworth's victory at the NWC Fall Classic last October, gives the Pirates a significant edge in the conference golf standings.

Krystal Pitkonen

After a closely contested first day on Monday, the Pirates pulled away to win by nine strokes over Puget Sound. Whitworth only led by one stroke over George Fox after the first round. The final team scores were: Whitworth 361-378 - 739, Puget Sound 363-385 - 748, Linfield 363-389 - 752, George Fox 362-392 - 754, Pacific (Ore.) 372-390 - 762, Willamette 439-430 - 869, Whitman 444-455 - 899, Lewis & Clark incomplete, Pacific Lutheran incomplete.

Krystal Pitkonen (Jr., Colbert, Wash.) finished fourth individually with a two-day score of 91-87 - 178. Liz Martin (Fr., Portland, Ore.) led the Pirates on the first day with an 87 and finished tied for fifth at 87-94 - 181. Mariesa Stombaugh (Jr., Salem, Ore.) shot 92-95 - 187 to tie for 10th place. Sophie Sestero (So., Boise, Idaho) scored 91-103 - 194 to post an important first day score for the Bucs. Rachel Dubes (Jr., Quincy, Wash.) shot 97-102 - 199, while Alicia Bratlien (Jr., Poulsbo, Wash.) shot 102-103 - 205 to round out the Pirate scores.

Willamette's Whitney Ueno (84-87 - 171) was the individual medalist for the second NWC tournament this year, coming from behind to win by five strokes over Linfield's Brynn Hurdus (83-93 - 176).

Whitworth now gains eight more points toward the final NWC golf standings. The Pirates (16 points) have a commanding four-point lead over Puget Sound (12 points) in the current standings. The NWC Fall Classic and NWC Spring Classic both count 25% toward the final conference standings, while the end-of-the-year NWC Tournament will count 50%.

Last season the Pirates finished second in the Fall Classic, dropped to fifth in the Spring Classic, but rallied back up to second in the final NWC Tournament to finish second in the final conference golf standings. Defending NWC champion Pacific (Ore.) is currently third in the NWC standings.

Current NWC Golf Standings (Through NWC Spring Classic):
School	Fall Classic	Spring Classic	NWC Tourn.	Final
Whitworth	8	8	--	16
Puget Sound	5	7	--	12
Pacific (Ore.)	7	4	--	11
George Fox	6	5	--	11
Linfield	4	6	--	10
Willamette	2	3	--	5
Pacific Lutheran	3	0	--	3
Whitman	0	2	--	2
Lewis & Clark	0	0	--	0

NWC Spring Classic Results

Whitworth Golf Schedule / Results

Whitworth Roster