Despite struggling with inconsistent play throughout its season, Portland State put all of the pieces together last week en route to winning the Vikings’ fourth Big Sky Championship in the past six seasons. Sophomore Hannah Bews’ best collegiate outing of her career, and freshman Alexia Brown and junior Kayla Morinaga’s top-10 finishes fueled the Vikings to a surprising victory in the conference tournament, earning the team a trip to the NCAA West Regional Golf Championship.
Swinging sweetest toward the end
Despite struggling with inconsistent play throughout its season, Portland State put all of the pieces together last week en route to winning the Vikings’ fourth Big Sky Championship in the past six seasons.
Sophomore Hannah Bews’ best collegiate outing of her career, and freshman Alexia Brown and junior Kayla Morinaga’s top-10 finishes fueled the Vikings to a surprising victory in the conference tournament, earning the team a trip to the NCAA West Regional Golf Championship.
The championship will be played in Sacramento, Calif., May 8-10. The Vikings were picked to finish fifth of nine teams in the Big Sky at the beginning of the season.
“We set a goal in February to get to this point so I am not necessarily surprised,” said first-year head coach Kathleen Takaishi. “I knew that everyone would have to play well if we were to do it, and they each did.”
Although the victory was the Vikings fourth conference championship this decade (2003-05), this particular trip to the NCAA Regional Championship may have additional significance for a Portland State team whose eight-woman roster includes three freshmen and four sophomores.
Prior to winning the conference tournament, Portland State had yet to even finish in the top half of any of their tournaments, with its best finish coming when the Vikings finished seventh of 13 teams at the BYU Invitational.
“We have had one person play well every tournament, but never been able to put it together,” Takaishi said.
Bews’ sometime erratic play personified the Vikings’ team struggles this season. Heading into the conference tournament, Bews 80.9 scoring average was third on the team behind Morinaga and Brown.
“I have had some problems with my short game this season,” Bews said. “In particular, I have struggled with my putting.”
In a courageous move, Bews switched to a new putter before the Big Sky Championships began.
“Using the new putter gave me the confidence that I needed for the rest of my game,” Bews said.
While Bews’ three-day total of 220 earned her medalist honors as the low scoring golfer for the tournament, the Vikings advanced to the NCAA championship because of consistent play from the remaining players on the team.
After shooting an opening-day 80, Morinaga shot back-to-back 75s, demonstrating why she has been selected as an all-conference performer the last two seasons.
Along with Brown and Bews, freshman Aubrey Vaughn played her best golf of the season, playing particularly well in the second round en route to shooting her season low, an even par 72.
“It really was an overall team effort,” Bews said. “We each had our moments during the tournament, but we needed every single shot to win.”
The victory earned the Vikings a spot among the 21 teams selected to compete at the NCAA West Regional Tournament. Among those also selected to compete include national powerhouses, USC, Arizona State, Stanford, Arkansas and Brigham Young.
The top eight teams and two individuals will advance to the National Championship in El Paso, Texas at the end of the month. Big Sky Championship team results
School Three-day total
Portland State 911
Northern Arizona 913
Eastern Washington914
Montana 921
Sacramento State928
Individual results
School Three-day total
1. Hannah Bews Portland State 220
2. Ali Carter Northern Arizona 222
3. Carissa Simmons Montana 223
Other Vikings
9. Alexia Brown Portland State 229
10. Kayla Morinaga Portland State 230
26. Aubrey Vaughn Portland State 238
27. Danielle RanalloPortland State 239
