Golf off to a strong start

For the past two seasons, the women’s golf team has placed third in the Big Sky Conference. This year, they hope to do even better.

The team is led by Coach Felicia Johnston, an experienced golfer who was named BSC women’s golf coach of the year for 1999-2000. This summer, she won the Portland Women’s City Amateur Championship at Heron Lakes Golf Club.

Returning players include Jeana Lee, Rebecca Randolph, Bobbie Dunn and Sarah Tiller. These golfers stepped up last year when their teammate and 2001 Big Sky medalist Taya Battistella was forced to sit out the season because of a back injury. A healthy Battistella returned this season.

Kristin Ratzlaff, Elyse Dodson and Monica Venn join the five veterans. The resulting team has turned in some solid performances already this year.

The Oregon State Shanico Invitational, held at Trysting Tree Golf Course in Corvallis Sept. 16-17, was the first tournament of the season.

The Vikings tied Idaho for 11th place with a 54-hole score of 935. California came in first in the 18-team competition with a score of 884. UCLA and Oregon State tied for second on the 6,160 yard, par-72 course.

Battistella gave a strong return performance for PSU, tying for 26th place among the 98 competitors.

The Vikings were able to beat out the other two Big Sky Conference teams participating in the event, Weber State (13th) and Washington (16th).

On Sept. 23-24 the Vikings were in Colorado for the Pioneer Highlands Ranch Golf Tournament. Seven teams and a total of 43 golfers competed on the 6,252 yard, par-72 course.

Iowa State won the event with a score of 595, with Denver and Colorado coming in a close second and third with respective team scores of 598 and 599. Portland State finished fourth with a score of 617.

Lee, a sophomore, played well for the Vikings, coming in 10th place with a career-low score of 72 in the second round and an overall score of 152.

The Vikings will return to Colorado for the Heather Fall/Colorado Memorial on Oct. 7-8.