Portland State freshman Taylor shoots for Big Sky Monday
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Nelson’s Lauren Taylor hopes to build on what has already been an amazing season on the links at Portland State when the Vikings begin play Monday in the Big Sky Conference at the Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, AZ.
Taylor joins Viking teammates junior Tiffany Schoning, sophomore Britney Yada, senior Kalyn Dodge and senior Alexia Brown at the 54-hole championship tournament.
The winner of the tournament advances to an NCAA Regional on May 5-7, likely the West Regional at Washington National Golf Club in Auburn, WA.
“We have a game plan for the golf course and must commit to that and play one shot at a time,” said Portland State head Coach Kathleen Takaishi on the university website.
“The team is confident going into the week, but knows it has to execute once again.”
Taylor, 19, already won two tournaments this season on the Big Sky circuit in California — Cal State Fullerton Folino Invitational and UC Irvine Anteater Invitational.
Those accomplishments did not go unnoticed as the Granite Pointe golfer last week earned Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year accolades — the first freshman from Portland State to claim the honour.
Taylor, a graduate of L.V. Rogers High School, also was named to the All- Big Sky Conference Team with Schoning and Yada. Dodge was named to the second team.
All-Conference honors are based on Golfstat.com national player rankings.
Taylor’s scoring average of 75.80 is the best ever by a PSU freshman. She also tied a school scoring record for a 36-hole tournament with an even par 144 at the Folino.
Taylor, a former star on the West Kootenay and B.C. Junior Golf circuit, is a two-time Big Sky Conference Golfer of the Week.
The Big Sky Conference tournament starts Monday and runs through Wednesday with 18 holes of play each day at Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, AZ, a par-72, 6,162-yard course.
Portland State won the 2010 Big Sky Conference Championship by two strokes over Sacramento State.
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