MCMINNVILLE, Ore.—Lewis & Clark College first year Ahika Jani tied her collegiate-low round, to lead Lewis & Clark College women's golf on Day One of the Northwest Conference Championship Tournament. 
 
THE BASICS 
 
Women's Golf – 6^th out of 9 Teams - +54 (342) 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Jani went two-under on the back nine, to put herself in a tie for sixth place in the individual standings. 
 
As a team, Lewis & Clark sits just four shots back of fifth-place Pacific Lutheran University. The Pioneers hold a one-stroke lead of the University of Puget Sound and a 15-stroke lead over Linfield University. 
 
The Pioneers head into the final day of NWC competition this season in fifth place in the overall team standings. They hold a seven-stroke aggregate edge over Pacific Lutheran and 22-stroke lead on Puget Sound. 
 
Jani shot a 77 (+5) for the second time this season. She had an up-and-down front nine. The first year posted two birdies, two bogeys, a double bogey and a quintuple bogey. After dropping to +8 after eight holes, Jani notched a birdie on the par 5 ninth. She tallied birdies on the par 5 11^th and 18^th holes to finish at +5 overall. Over the final 10 holes, Jani notched seven pars and three birdies. 
 
First year Evie Denton placed second on the team. The first year carded an 85 (+13) to finish the day in a tie for 25^th place. Denton started off her day with a difficult front nine. She posted six-straight bogeys from the third-eighth holes to fall to +8. Denton found her groove over the final 10 holes. She posted five pars and five bogeys to close at +13. 
 
First year Julia Klenk also put together a strong back nine. The first year finished her day in a tie for 29^th place. She registered a score of 87 (+15). Klenk opened the day +8 through the sixth hole. She racked up seven pars over the final 12 holes, including four in a row from the 12-15 holes. 
 
First year Lydia Schwenker was the Pioneers fourth and final scorer on Sunday. She wrapped up the day 35^thoverall with a score of 93 (+21). Schwenker recorded five of her six pars over the final 11 holes. She registered back-to-back pars on the par 4 16^th and par 3 17^th.
 
First year captain Natalie Nuñez Lezama placed fifth on the team. She recorded a score of 108 (+36) to end the day 39^th overall. Nuñez Lezama opened the day with a four on the par 4 first hole. She posted four bogeys in a five-hole span between the eighth and 12^th holes. 

BY THE NUMBERS
 

• Jani finished tied for first in the field with her four birdies on Sunday. She matched Cindy Luo (Whitman College) and Kayla Speer (Pacific University). 
• The Pioneers team score of 342 (+54) is their fourth-lowest round of the season. Lewis & Clark has recorded their four-lowest rounds of the season during NWC events. They have shot rounds of 354 (+66) or lower in all five of their rounds at NWC Tournaments this season. 
• Jani led the Pioneers and sits tied for first with her average of 2.80 (-1) on Par 3s. She also sits third overall on Par 5s (4.60, -2). 
• Schwenker posted the second-lowest round of her collegiate career. Her score of 93 (+21) was just four strokes off her collegiate-low round (89, +17). 
• Jani's round of 77 (+5) matches her score of 77 (+5) in the Northwest Conference Fall Classic First Round on October 12. 
• All five Pioneers recorded at least one par on Sunday. Jani (10) led the team and sits ninth in the field. Klenk (seven), Denton (six) and Schwenker (six) all are in the top-26 in the field. Nuñez Lezama added one par. 

WHO'S NEXT 
 
Lewis & Clark will return to Michelbrook Country Club on Monday for their final round of the 2024-25 season. The Pioneers will tee off beginning at 9:08 a.m.