Raised stakes in Arizona

With another spring season coming to a close, the Portland State women’s golf team is again showing why they should be considered one of the best in the Big Sky Conference.

Heading into this year’s Big Sky Championship, the Vikings have a two-stroke better scoring average than the squad that shocked the field last year and won the conference championship.

Head coach Kathleen Takaishi said that the key to this season’s success is quite simple: smarter play. Takaishi points specifically to, “better course management and [the players] improving their overall game.”

The Vikings have amassed a strong record of 21-8 when competing head-to-head against Big Sky opponents and appear primed to make a run at the conference championship in Chandler, Ariz., at the Ocotillo Golf Club.

This season the Vikings were fortunate enough to have just played at the course where they will defend their title only two weeks ago at a tournament hosted by the University of Wyoming.

The team’s familiarity with the course should provide some hope that the Vikings could recreate last year’s Cinderella-like run that resulted in the program hoisting their fourth trophy in the past six years.

“They saw what they could accomplish and wanted more,” Takaishi said. “We have good chemistry this year. We want to win conference and win the title.”

Sophomore Stephanie Johns has been the team’s most consistent presence for the squad this year, averaging a shade under 78 strokes per round. She finished first at one event and has earned several Big Sky Player of the Week honors.

But the improvement of three other Portland State players—juniors Justine Hix and Danielle Ranallo, and sophomore Aubrey Vaughn—has given the team great hope as they head to Arizona for the three day championship event scheduled to begin on April 20.

“We have improved two through five,” Takaishi said, referring to Hix, Ranallo, Vaughn and sophomore Alexia Brown. “Two through five are playing better and that’s going to help us.”

After finishing strong in all eight of their tournaments this season, the Vikings are prepared to build on the success of last year. A slow start behind them, the Vikings are approaching the final tournament with a conference championship in their sights and a vision laid out by Takaishi.

“We need to play our game and play smart.”