RICHLAND, Wash. – George Fox raced to an early 24-stroke lead over closest contender Whitman on the first day Friday of the Northwest Conference Championships at Columbia Point Golf Course. The Bruins scored 303 to Whitman’s 307. Linfield sits in third at 329, followed by Whitworth (335), Pacific (342), Puget Sound (369), and Pacific Lutheran (370).

George Fox blanketed the opening 18 holes with three of its players at the top of the overall leaderboard. Kelsey Morrison and Jill Westendorf are currently tied for first with matching scores of 74. Fellow Bruin Brianna Nap is in third after a first-round score of 76.

Linfield’s Brynn Hurdus finished the day in a tie for fifth with George Fox’s Abby Mann. The two finished with scores of 79.

Katie Kilborn of Linfield was not far behind, ending the first round in a five-way tie for seventh. The Wildcats senior had a first-round score of 80.

Alexandria Smith (Jr., Bellingham, Wash.) and Brinn Hovde (Sr., Bellingham, Wash.) finished out the top-four players for the Wildcats. Smith finished 16th with a score of 84, only 10 strokes off the top spot. Hovde finished in a tie for 20th with a score of 86.