by Connor Soudani
The Whitworth women’s golf team had an important outing this weekend for the first half of the North Idaho Invitational. The invite, which featured many NAIA and community college teams, was a critical test of the team’s strength and standing as they progress towards conference play.
Senior Emily Guthrie, who finished third at the event last year, highlighted the performance this year for the women shooting an 81 first round (including a hole-in-one) and a 75 second round.
“I was proud that we stayed strong through 36 holes,” Guthrie said.
The women, while stumbling through the first round, shaved off 22 points for a stronger second-round performance. In reference to the team’s major comeback, Guthrie added that the dramatic improvement was a good sign for the rest of the invite competition and also for the season to come.
Freshman Yvonne LaCoursiere also expressed her positive reaction to the day’s events.
“I was very happy that we improved in that second round,” she said. “I think every time we play a new course it really helps us gain experience.”
That experience was much needed for the three freshmen who will have to take a more prominent role in scoring for the team as the season progresses.
The women’s team is going into this year with a wide assortment of new challenges to deal with in comparison to previous years. While already competing with a relatively small team of seven, the Pirates are also fighting injuries suffered by Nicole Lomax and Emily Travis.
“We have a lot of room for improvement in multiple areas,” head coach Katie Fuqua said. “Honestly, we don’t stack up well in conference right now. We’re hoping to do what we were able to do in the past.”
Whitworth will confront many competitive teams in conference this year, including rival George Fox University and recently emerged Whitman College, which edged the Pirates in the Lewiston Triangular on Sept. 8.
The women’s team finished up competition at the North Idaho Invite on Monday, Sept. 24. Results from Monday’s competition were not available at Whitworthian press time.
Whitworth will play in the Whitworth Invitational in Spokane on Sept. 30.
Women’s golf online update: Whitworth places fourth in Idaho
The Whitworth women’s team finished up play at the North Idaho Invitational on Monday. The team consisted of senior Emily Guthrie (234) freshmen Chelsea Bayley (262), Yvonne LaCoursiere (276), and Cindy Tapia (300).
The Pirates shot a combined score of 1072, edging out the University of Great Falls by five strokes to earn finish in fourth place. Guthrie, who led the Pirates in scoring, finished tied with Lewis-Clark State’s Idah Wisenhunt for second place.
Lewis-Clark State College took the team title with a score of 950.
The women host an important tournament next weeked that will impact conference standings. The Pirates will host the Whitworth Invitational at the Spokane Country Club on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
Contact Connor Soudani at csoudani16@my.whitworth.edu