WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Despite playing a much tougher course for the second 18 holes, the Linfield women’s golf team improved its total score by one stroke to hang on to third place at the Whitman Invitational. The two-day event concluded Sunday at the Wine Country Golf Club.

Finishing first for the Wildcats was Hannah Christianson, who carded an 84 to move past teammate Brinn Hovde in the final individual standings. Christianson ended up with a two-day total of 83-84=167, good for 10th place. Hovde, who carded 82 strokes on the first day, finished in a tie for 11th place with a total score of 82-86=168.

Sophie Corr and Alexandria Smith (Sr., Bellingham, Wash.) concluded the tournament in a five-way tie for 14th place individually. Corr shot 88 on the second day to finish with a total of 85-88=173.

Smith was the only Wildcat to improve her second-round score, shooting a career-best and Linfield tournament-low 79 to end up with a total score of 94-79=173. She was also involved in a bit of sibling rivalry with Lydia Smith. The sisters combined for nine birdies over the second 18 holes, and were given regular updates on the other’s progress throughout the day.

Lydia shot five birdies, more than her birdie total for the entire 2010-11 season, and ended with a two-day score of 90-91=181.

Linfield finished third in the team standings with a total score of 338-337=675.

The host Whitman Missionaries, who could not be caught after shooting 313 on day one, carded 320 on day two to claim top team honors. Sophomore Katie Zajicek was the individual medalist after carding a 74-75=1449, a whopping seven strokes better than the runner-up. She had the lowest round on both days.

Whitworth finished in second place, 25 strokes back (328-330=658). Other team scores included: North Idaho in fourth (346-351=697), Warner Pacific in fifth (352-365=717) and Pacific, the only team besides Linfield to improve upon its first-round score, in sixth (409-383=792). Lewis & Clark did not compile a team score.

'CAT SCRATCH: The first round was played at Veterans Memorial Golf Course and moved 10 miles east to the Wine Valley Golf Club for the second round.

NEXT: The Wildcats host the Linfield Invitational Saturday afternoon at the Michelbook Country Club. Willamette and Pacific are set to compete.