YAKIMA, Wash. - Knowing that the Puget Sound Loggers would need a strong team effort to stay in the hunt for the 2009 Northwest Conference Championship, sophomore Sarah Bicker led all golfers with an eight-over 82 to put the Loggers in the lead following the first day of the 2009 NWC Championship at Apple Tree Golf Club in Yakima, Wash.

The Loggers, who are acting at host of the tournament, used the 82 from Bicker, as well as an 87 from Natalie Nakamine and an 89 from Maresa Jenson to post a team score of 355 to take a 10-stroke lead over second-place Linfield and an 18-stroke lead over current NWC standings leader Whitworth.

Linfield was led by an 84 from sophomore Brynn Hurdus, who tied with Whitney Ueno of Willamette for second place in the individual standings. Sophie Corr finished with a 91 to keep the Wildcats in contention with a 365.

The Pirates were led by an 87 from Liz Martin but the next best score for Whitworth, who won both the Fall and Spring Classics, was a 92 from Rachel Dubes as the Bucs finished day one with a score of 373.

George Fox sits in fourth after the first day at 379, led by a 93 from Briana Nap. Defending NWC Champion Pacific (Ore.) is in fifth at 388, led by an 89 from Valerie Kitamori.

Pacific Lutheran and Willamette are tied for sixth with team scores of 446 while Whitman is in eighth, shooting 449. Lewis & Clark has only two golfers competiting, falling short of the required number to score.

The 2009 NWC Champion will be determined by results from the Fall Classic, Spring Classic and the Championship. Teams were awarded one point for each team they finished ahead of during the Fall and Spring Classics while teams will earn two points for each team they finish ahead of at the Championship.