Lauren Taylor’s ride atop the Big Sky Conference leaderboard ended earlier this week, but her Portland State University Vikings team still managed to capture the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic in Arizona.
Granite Pointe-raised Taylor came into this week’s stop on the women’s NCAA Division I schedule as the winner of the last two events. Taylor, who is a freshman with the Vikings, finished tied for 23ed in the 121-golfer field after shooting 79-75-74 in the three-round event played at the Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, Arizona.
In easily the finest tournament performance in Portland State’s history, the Vikings decimated the field and won the 54-hole event by 28 shots. Making the win even more important is the fact Portland State beat the other eight Big Sky Conference schools on the same course they will play April 18-20 for the Big Sky Championship.
PSU won the 23-team tournament for the second time in as many weeks. The Vikings captured the Anteater Invitational last week in southern California, the tournament which Taylor claimed top medalist honours.
The Ocotillo Golf Resort is a 6,184-yard, par 72 course.
— with files from Mike Lund/Portland State University