Vikings golf to compete at Regionals

The recent winners of the Big Sky Conference Golf Championship are not simply going on vacation to a sunnier climate later this week. The Portland State women’s golf team is instead headed to Stanford, Calif., to compete in the NCAA West Regional Golf Championships on May 5–8.

The Vikings are led by All-Conference freshman Britney Yada, who finished tied for third place at the Big Sky Championship. Joining her in California are senior Stephanie Johns, sophomore Tiffany Schoning, junior Kalyn Dodge and junior Alexia Brown.

Head coach Kathleen Takaishi, this year’s Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year, expressed confidence in her team’s chances at the regional.

“I think they will do really well,” Takaishi said. “They’ve practiced hard and earned their spot. We look forward to the challenge.”

Portland State earned their tee-times at the NCAA Regionals after winning last month’s Big Sky Championship at the Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, Ariz., where Portland State finished with a combined team score of 900, two shots under Sacramento State. The Vikings’ score marks the fourth-lowest 54-hole score in league history.

This year’s championship is PSU’s fifth golf title in the last eight seasons, and the second in Takaishi’s three seasons at the head of the Portland State program.

This week will mark Portland State’s fifth appearance in the NCAA regional. In 2003, PSU placed 16th for their best-ever finish by a Viking team in an NCAA regional. They placed 20th in 2004, 21st in 2005, and 20th in 2008.

The top eight teams and top two players from each regional will advance to the NCAA National Championship at Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C. on May 18–21.

The Central and Eastern regional tournaments are being played on the same weekend at Otter Creek Golf Course in Bloomington, Ind. and Ironwood Country Club in Greenville, N.C., respectively.

The 71-par Stanford Golf Course spreads over 6,212 yards and will host 24 schools on May 6–8. Five players will compete for each team but only four will count toward the team’s score.

Portland State in NCAA Regionals
2003
16th, 936 strokes
Karsten Golf Club, Tempe, Ariz. (hosted by Arizona State) ?

2004
20th, 943 strokes
Stanford Golf Club, Stanford, Calif. (hosted by Stanford) ?

2005
21st, 952 strokes
New Mexico State Golf Course, Las Cruces, N.M. (hosted by New Mexico State) ?

2008
20th, 928 strokes
Lincoln Hills Golf Club, Sacramento, Calif. (hosted by Sacramento State)

Portland State golf team in 2009–10
Team Scoring Average: 309.7*
Stephanie Johns, Sr., 76.25?
Britney Yada, Fr., 76.37 ?
Tiffany Schoning, So., 77.76 ?
Kalyn Dodge, Jr., 78.42 ?
Alexia Brown, Jr., 79.04 ?
Danielle Ranallo, Sr., 80.67 ?
Aubrey Vaughn, Jr., 80.67 ?
Justine Hix, Sr., 80.89 ?
Corrine Gilbertson, So., 89.00

*On pace to break the school record