April 9, 2003

Portland, OR - For the third time in five weeks this spring and fourth time this season, a Portland State woman golfer has been named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Senior Taya Battistella earned the honor after being the top Big Sky performer at this week's Utah Dixie Classic.

Battistella shot 76-74-78=228 on Monday and Tuesday to place in a tie for 15th overall among 120 golfers and post the best score by a Big Sky competitor. She led the Vikings to a sixth place finish among 22 teams.

PSU outplayed four other Big Sky schools competing, shooting 929 over the 54-hole event. It was the second-best 54-hole score in the seven-year history of the PSU women's golf program. A second-round 301 was also one stroke off a single-round school record. The Utah Dixie Classic was hosted by Brigham Young University at Sunbrook Golf Course in St. George, Utah.

Battistella, the 2001 Big Sky Conference medalist, improved her team-leading scoring average to 78.2. She had also been named Big Sky Golfer of the Week on Oct. 23 following an eighth-place finish at the Boise State Classic (150, 36 holes).

A product of Bend (OR) High School, Battistella has now been named BSC Player of the Week three times in her career. Two other Vikings have been named Player of the Week this spring: Rebecca Randolph on Mar. 6 after tying for second at the Bobcat Desert Classic in Goodyear, Arizona (144, 36 holes); and Jeana Lee on Mar. 12 following a 13th place finish at the Oregon Duck Invitational (231, 54 holes).

The Vikings, who were picked to finish second in the Big Sky this year by conference coaches, have played better in successive tournaments thoughout spring. PSU competes at the Stanford Invitational this weekend in its final tuneup for the Big Sky Conference Championship. The BSC Championship takes place at Palm Valley Golf Course in Goodyear, Arizona, April 21-23. Portland State has placed third each of the past two seasons.