Representing at the Big Sky

Nine schools are heading to Chandler, Ariz., on Monday to play in the women’s golf Big Sky Conference Championship. The favorite going into the championship is Northern Arizona, but Portland State has a solid 15–4 record in head-to-head matches against other Big Sky schools.

Head coach Kathleen Takaishi is confident about her team’s chances.

“Early in the year, our team goal was to win the conference championship. I knew we had a really good shot, but after our last event, with Stephanie [Johns] being healthy and Britney Yada playing great, we definitely have a great chance,” she said.

With the recent return of Johns, a senior who injured her back in the fall, the team tested the full roster at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic, where they placed fifth out of 23 teams for their best finish of the season.

“This was a good test to see where we need to focus our attention and what we actually need to do to win conference,” Takaishi said.

Heading into the conference championship, freshman Britney Yada is the only Viking to be named First Team All-Big Sky Conference this season, and is one of only two freshmen to be selected. The other is Freshman Player of the Year Stephanie Kim from Northern Arizona.

The Big Sky Conference Championship will be played at the Ocotillo Golf Course on April 19–21. Portland State last took the championship in 2008, but Yada feels the win for this year.

“We have a great chance at winning the Big Sky,” she said. “The team has been playing really well, and we have lots of confidence going into it.”