Sports - Local Colleges

POSTED: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

WOMEN'S COLLEGE GOLF: Vikings, Rachor third at CSUMB invite

Western Washington University freshman Claire Rachor had a top three medalist finish for the third straight competition as the Vikings completed the fall portion of their schedule by placing third among 13 teams at the Cal State Monterey Bay Lady Otter Women's Golf Invitational Tournament which ended Tuesday at the Bayonet Golf and Country Club in Monterey Bay, Calif.

Rachor shot a 3-over par 76, tied for the best round of the day, to place third individually with a 36-hole total of 156. That was just two strokes behind medalist Adriana Niclotti from Cal Baptist (80=154) with another Lancer, Nathalie Silva, second (83=155).

Two weeks ago, Rachor placed second at the WWU Invitational and last week she took medalist honors at the Sonoma State tournament.

"The number one thing I've been so impressed with about Claire is that she is so good at not giving up on a hole," said Western coach Bo Stephan. "Wherever her shot ends up, she looks at it as an opportunity to score. ... She stays aggressive and has pulled off some amazing shots.

"She had a good round going today. It blew hard down here and she had it to 3-under before it really started howling. These greens are the fastest I've seen in years and once the wind started blowing they were tough to putt."

The Vikings, who were fifth after Monday's play, shot a final-round 319 to move up to third at 642. Cal Baptist took team honors at 630 (323) by six shots over runner-up Grand Canyon (316=636).

Western's Alexandria Taylor tied for 10th at 160 (80). Sophie Elstrott (80) and Breanna Carmichael (83) tied for 21st at 164, and Katie Sharpe tied for 25th at 165 (83).

Western won two of its four fall tourneys, placing first at both the WWU and Sonoma State tournaments. The Vikings began the season by tying for fourth at the Grand Canyon tourney and finished third today.

"I'm excited about this team," Stephan said. "It's a good group, which is really coming together and has set some high goals. It has all the potential in the world."