ALOHA, Ore. – The Linfield women’s golf team put forth a season-best effort to take third among seven teams after the first round of play Friday at the Culturame Classic, hosted by George Fox at The Reserve Vineyards.

Brinn Hovde (Sr., Bellingham, Wash.) was the top golfer for the Wildcats. She shot her best round of the year, carding a two-over-par 75 over the first 18 holes. The effort, seven strokes better than her previous season best, put her in a two-way tie for fifth place.

Close behind was Hannah Christianson, who shot a four-over-par 77 to claim sole possession of ninth place.

Kristen Sawada of Hawai’i-Hilo leads all players with a first round score of 73, even for par. Hawai’i-Hilo, a Division II program, placed five golfers in the top 10 to take an impressive 16-stroke lead over all seven teams.

Host George Fox finished as the top Northwest Conference club on Friday, shooting a total score of 23-over-par 315. Linfield scored 329 points, good for third place. The ‘Cats were followed by Biola (341), Willamette (362), Northwest Christian (363) and Pacific (372). Lewis & Clark and Simpson (Calif.) did not field complete teams.

Rounding out the top five for Linfield were sisters Alexandria Smith (Jr., Bellingham, Wash.) and Lydia Smith and Danielle Lungren. Alexandria shot a 13-over-par 86, Lydia carded an 18-over-par 91 and Lungren scored a 23-over-par 96.

NEXT: The second round of play at The Reserve Vineyards begins Saturday at 11 a.m.