Photo by Explosive Illusions

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Every score counts. It is a common mantra in college golf that proved vital today for the Northern Arizona women's golf team as they defended their team title at the Circling Raven Collegiate Invitational.

"It was great to defend our title," said Head Coach Brad Bedortha. "It was a total team effort."

The Lumberjacks tied for first with BYU in the final team standings, one stroke better than host Gonzaga, seven ahead of Nevada and 14 better than San Francisco and CS-Northridge. NAU won the team title based on its fifth player score, posting a 79 while the Cougars recorded an 83.

Both teams finished at 905 for the 54-hole event with NAU posting a 304 over the final 18 holes and BYU at 305, erasing the one stroke deficit entering the final round.

True freshman Kaitlen Parsons shined in her collegiate debut just 21 miles from her hometown in Greenacres, Wash., where she was a standout at University High School.

She tied for the individual lead with a one-under par 71 in the first round, following with a 75 in the second round on Monday and a one-over par 73 in the third round on Tuesday. Overall, she tied for second at 219 with Gonzaga's Victoria Fallgren. They were one stroke back individual medalist Lauren Hernandez of Nevada.

"Kaitlen really stepped up for us," said Head Coach Brad Bedortha. "I could not be happier for her."

Fellow freshman Jessie Joachim had her best round of the tournament on Tuesday, carding a four-over par 76 to aid the winning effort and finish tied for 45^th overall. Senior Alexa Kim also had a 76 in the final round, tying for 30^th.

Sophomore Stephanie Kim and senior Dakin Whitmer each posted a 79 in the final round, providing the final difference in both team score and in the team tiebreaker. Kim tied for eighth overall, recording the sixth top-10 finish of her career at 224. Whitmer was tied for 59^th.

The Circling Raven Collegiate Invitational, formerly called the Bulldog & Eagle Invitational, was one of four tournament titles won by the Lumberjacks in 2009-10, setting a school record. NAU will look to defend its 2009 team title at the Hilton Garden Inn Mountain Shootout next week at Forrest Highlands Sept. 19-20.

Circling Raven Collegiate Invitational

Circling Raven Golf Course

Sept. 14, 2010

TEAM RESULTS

** 1. Northern Arizona 302-299-304 905 +41

2. Brigham Young 303-297-305 905 +41

3. Gonzaga 308-301-301 910 +46

4. Nevada 306-309-297 912 +48

5. San Francisco 310-300-309 919 +55

5. CSU-Northridge 308-305-306 919 +55

7. Washington State 310-309-301 920 +56

8 . Portland State 311-296-314 921 +57

9. Oregon State 301-308-314 923 +59

10. Montana 317-299-311 927 +63

11. Santa Clara 312-310-306 928 +64

12. UC-Riverside 311-311-310 932 +68

13. Boise State 314-307-312 933 +69

14. Montana State 310-309-315 934 +70

15. Portland 307-314-315 936 +72

16. Eastern Washington 321-308-323 952 +88

17. Seattle 321-318-315 954 +90

18. Southern Utah 312-323-325 960 +96

19. British Columbia 323-322-318 963 +99

20. Weber State 328-315-325 968 +104

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

1. Lauren Hernandez, Nevada 71-75-72 218 +2

2. Victoria Fallgren, Gonzaga 76-69-74 219 +3

2. Kaitlen Parsons, NAU 71-75-73 219 +3

4. Jade Bollinger, BYU 75-73-72 220 +4

5. Katrina Hegge, USF 72-73-76 221 +5

6. Tiffany Schoning, PSU 75-69-78 222 +6

7. Margo Dionisio, CSUN 73-77-73 223 +7

8. Stephanie Kim, NAU 74-71-79 224 +8

9. Tinna Johannsdottir, USF 75-73-77 225 +9

9. Miki Ueoka, SCU 77-74-74 225 +9

9. Seshia Lei Telles, OSU 74-74-77 225 +9