Women's and men's golf continue their seasons, less than one month away from the conference tournament
By David Thompson
While some professional golfers spent the start to their spring season in sex rehab, both University of Portland golf teams took to the links to work on their games.
The Pilots men's and women's golf teams are currently in the midst of their spring season, which will conclude at the WCC Championships next month.
The women's golf team competed in two tournaments, finishing third at the Red Rocks Invitational at Oak Creek Country Club in Sedona, Ariz. and winning the consolation bracket at the Cal Poly Lamkin Grip Match Play Championship at the Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande, Calif.
Senior Paige Rachor has led the way for the Pilots capturing the individual title at the Red Rocks Invitational and sweeping the competition during match play at the tournament at Cypress Ridge.
After opening the tournament two strokes back of the leader shooting a 77 on the first day, Rachor responded by recording the second best round of the tournament with a 72. The combined score of 149 secured the win for Rachor, who was out last fall with an injury.
"It was a big deal considering what I went through in the fall," Rachor said.
It was the first win of Rachor's collegiate career. She had finished in the top ten two other times.
"It was pretty awesome for me," Rachor said. "I just played and was in the zone."
The women next play at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic in Chandler, April 5 and 6.
The University of Portland men have finished in the top five twice this spring behind junior Justin Smithhisler who has finished in the top 20 three times including a seventh place finish at the USF Triumph at Pauma Valley at the Pauma Valley Country Club in Pauma Valley, Calif.
Smithhisler was one of four Pilots to finish in the top 20 at the tournament. Joining him was freshman Nick Chianello (18), junior Jake Wagner (20) and senior Terence Macatangay (20).
The four helped Portland to its best team finish of the season. The final team score of 909 was 20 strokes off the Central Arkansas winning score of 889.
The Pilots followed up their performance at Pauma Valley with another solid outing at the Oregon Duck Invitational in Junction City, Ore. Chianello shot a day's best 68 to open the tournament as a co-leader. The freshman followed that with a 75 and finished with a 70 to finish tied for sixth, just four strokes behind Daniel Miernicki of the University of Oregon.
Both the men's and women's teams will compete at the WCC Championships held the April 19 and 20 at the Hiddenbrooke Golf Course in Vallejo, Calif.
