Former Portland State athletes continue to make their mark at the professional level as evidenced by Viking Golf Hall of Famer Britney Yada. The 2013 PSU grad has qualified for the U.S. Women's Open, played this week at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, NC.
 
This marks the third time that Yada has qualified for the U.S. Open, also making appearances in 2018 at Shoal Creek and 2021 at Olympic Club. Yada will play in Thursday afternoon's final group, teeing off at 2:57 p.m. ET/11:57 a.m. PT. On Friday, she tees off at 9:12 a.m. ET/6:12 a.m. PT. The event is televised on Peacock and the USA Network on Thursday and Friday, and additionally NBC over the weekend.

A native of Hilo, HI, Yada did it all as a member of the Portland State Golf Team from 2009-2013. She was the first and only four-time All-Big Sky Conference selection, four-time All-Big Sky Tournament performer, four-time Academic All-Conference honoree and won five Big Sky Player of the Week awards. She won two individual titles during her career, including the 2011 Big Sky Championship. She finished in the top-five in the Big Sky all four seasons and was a member of two Big Sky team champions. By the end of her career, Yada owned virtually every school scoring record. 

She was inducted into the Portland State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018 in her first year of eligibility.

Since graduating Portland State, Yada has played professionally, competing on the LPGA, Epson and Cactus Tours. She was a five-time winner on the Cactus Tour in 2020, played mainly throughout Arizona and the southwest, and led the money list.

Yada is just the most recent Viking making a mark in professional sports and in the spotlight this week. Former PSU basketball star Ime Udoka, now the Head Coach of the Boston Celtics, has led his team to the NBA Finals, which begin on Thursday night. Former PSU football star Davis Alexander debuted last week in a preseason game with the Montreal Alouettes, completing 11-14 passes for 106 yards, rushing for a touchdown and completing a two-point conversion. His next exhibition game is Friday night as he vies to make the regular season roster.

A BIG WEEKEND FOR FORMER VIKINGS IN PRO SPORTS: UDOKA, ALEXANDER SHINE