NWC FALL CLASSIC: Bruins Win 3rd Straight Classic as McGrew Takes Medalist Honors

PORTLAND, Ore. – Led by medalist Megan McGrew, who won the second tournament of her first college semester, the eighth-ranked George Fox University Bruins captured their third straight Northwest Conference Women’s Golf Fall Classic with a Sunday low score of 312 as the tournament concluded here at the Heron Lakes Golf Course’s Green Back links.

George Fox finished with a final team total of 313-312=625, 49-over-par and 13 strokes ahead of Whitman College, which shot a 320-318=638.  Willamette University took third with a 342-329=671, followed by Linfield College at 340-339=679, Whitworth University at 344-337=681, Pacific Lutheran University at 357-355=712, Pacific University at 403-378=781, and the University of Puget Sound at 448-436=884.  Lewis & Clark College had three individuals entered but no team score.

McGrew, who also won the Pacific Fall Invitational on Sept. 24-25, shot a 6-over-par 74-76=150 on the par-72, 5,813-yard course.  Teammate Kelsey Morrison had Sunday’s individual low score and took second with a 78-74=152.  Tate Head of Whitman, who trailed McGrew by only one stroke after Saturday’s round, slipped back to third with a 75-80=155.

Also counting for the Bruins on Sunday were Jill Westendorf, who shot an 81-80=161 to tie for eighth, and Abby Mann, whose 86-82=168 earned her 14th place.  Loreece Magsanide rounded out the Bruin scores with an 80-87=167 to place 13th.

“Once again, I was really pleased with how our team performed,” commented George Fox head coach MaryJo McCloskey.  “It's always tough being in the lead and trying to back it up with a good second day score, which we did; in fact, we even improved by one stroke.  The team did a great job of handling the pressure and getting it done.  A ‘three-peat’ is pretty cool.  It was also very exciting to have all our players finish in the top 15 individually, including Megan earning medalist honors and Kelsey finishing second.  We are definitely looking forward to spring season!”

The NWC Fall Classic counts as one quarter of the score toward the overall conference title, with the Spring Classic as another quarter and the NWC Championship Tournament as one half of the total team score.  Standings heading into the spring season have George Fox with 8 points, Whitman 7, Willamette 6, Linfield 5, Whitworth 4, Pacific Lutheran 3, Pacific 2, Puget Sound 1, and Lewis & Clark 0.

Complete results of the 2011 Northwest Conference Women’s Golf Fall Classic, courtesy of the Willamette sports information office, are available on line on the George Fox women’s golf web site at http://athletics.georgefox.edu/sports/wgolf/2011-12/files/1023.htm.