PORTLAND, Ore. – Linfield’s Hannah Christianson earned her first top-5 finish at a major tournament, helping the Wildcats claim fourth place in a field of nine teams as play concluded Sunday at the Northwest Conference Fall Classic at Heron Lakes Golf Club’s Green Back Course.

The ‘Cats shot a collective two-round total of 340-339-679 to edge Whitworth for fourth place by two strokes. George Fox outdistanced the field with a two-day total of 625, 13 strokes better than runner-up Whitman’s 638. Willamette was third overall at 671.

Christianson was Linfield’s most consistent golfer at the Fall Classic, carding scores of 79-80-159 to share fifth place. Brinn Hovde was 10 strokes back at 83-86-169 and finished in a tie with 15th place. Alexandria Smith (Sr., Bellingham, Wash.) improved her first-round score by seven strokes, 92-85-177, equaling the 21st place showing of her sister Lydia Smith, who shot 89-88-177. Danielle Lungren completed the list of Linfield scorers, taking 28th place at 89-94-183.

Carding a two-day score of 150, George Fox’s Megan McGrew claimed medalist honors, nipping Bruins teammate Kelsey Morrison by two strokes. Whitman’s Kate Head was third at 155, followed by McKenzie Weinhold of Willamette at 158. Christianson shared fifth place with Whitman’s Katie Zajicek.

With the Fall Classic counting one-fourth toward determining the 2011-12 NWC team champion, Linfield heads into the winter break in fourth place in the overall point standings.