The Viking Women's Golf Team is doing the right thing at the right time; playing its best golf of the season heading into next week's Big Sky Conference Championship Tournament.
 
The Vikings come off a pair of strong performances in their last two events and have designs on continuing their progression up the Big Sky leaderboard. Consider these facts:
 

• PSU currently has a 302.8 team scoring average, its' best in six seasons.
• In the past two tournaments, PSU has had a 296.0 scoring average.
• A round of 291 in last month's Jackrabbits Invitational was the best single-round score in seven seasons.
• And, the resulting 878 tournament score was the best by a Viking team in eight seasons.

 
That's a pretty good resume as Portland State approaches the most important tournament of the season.
 
The Big Sky Championship takes place Monday through Wednesday at the Wigwam Resort Blue Course in Litchfield, AZ. The 54-hole event will have 18 holes of play each day. Three-time defending champion Sacramento State is the heavy favorite once again and the Vikings will be playing partners of the Hornets in the opening round.
 
PSU has placed eighth in the Big Sky each of the past three seasons, but has designs on improving their position in 2026. Just this past week, the Vikings were eighth in the Bobcat Desert Classic (898) among 13 teams. They out-played four Big Sky schools in the field.
 
Four different players have led the Vikings in scoring this season in eight tournaments. That is a positive as any player may step up and contribute in a given round. Junior Cynthia Valerie Ong leads the Vikings in scoring at 75.29 strokes per round. Her sister, freshman Caithlyn, has a 76.33 scoring average. Sophomore Maddie Dustin is at 76.50 and led PSU at the Bobcat Desert Classic with a six-over par 222. Senior Payten Shimizu has a 76.81 scoring average and senior Bayler Brundage is at 77.95. Junior Momo Udom (78.16) will also be available for competition at the Big Sky Championship.
 
The Blue Course at Wigwam will be a 5,981-yard, par-71. Portland State's Monday tee times will be 7:10 to 7:42 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday tee times will be determined by tournament standings.
 

TAP-INS

• HISTORY: This will be the 33^nd Big Sky Conference women's golf championship. Sacramento State won the 2025 title, played at The Wigwam Club, and has won three straight titles and six of the last eight… PSU finished eighth in the two previous tournaments played at Wigwam, posting scores of 893 (2024) and 903 (2025)… Portland State began its women's golf program in 1997-98, and between 2003 and 2014 won seven Big Sky Championships (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014).
• SCORING AVERAGES/rounds (8 tournaments): Cynthia Valerie Ong (75.29/24); Caithlyn Ong (76.33/15); Payten Shimizu (76.81/21); Maddie Dustin (76.50/24); Bayler Brundage (77.95/24); Francesca Tomp (78.00/9); Momo Udom (78.16/12).
• BIRDIES/rounds (8 tournaments): Cynthia Valerie Ong, 49/24; Maddie Dustin, 46/24; Bayler Brundage, 39/24; Payten Shimizu, 38/21; Caithlyn Ong 29/15; Francesca Tomp, 17/9; Momo Udom, 15/12. Eagles: Dustin, 1; Brundage, 1.
• RANKINGS AT PORTLAND STATE: Career rounds played: Bayler Brundage, 100/10th; Payten Shimizu, 93/t3th. Career Scoring Average: Cynthia Valerie Ong, 76.36/8^th; Payten Shimizu, 77.59/13^th. Career Birdies: Bayler Brundage, 158/6th; Payten Shimizu, 144/t7^th. Career rounds under par: Cynthia Valerie Ong, 6/t8th.

 

BIG SKY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Date: Apr. 20-22
Course: Wigwam Golf Club (Blue Course)?
Par/Yardage: 71/5,981 yards?
Live scoring: https://scoreboard.clippd.com/tournaments/237689/scoring/team ?
Play: 18 holes each day. Tee times begin at 6:30 a.m. each day.?
Teams competing (10): Eastern Washington, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State, Weber State.
 
Monday tee times (Tuesday and Wednesday tee times based on standings)
6:30 a.m.-7:02 a.m. – Eastern Washington, Weber State
7:10 a.m.-7:42 a.m. – Portland State, Sacramento State
7:50 a.m.-8:30 a.m. – Montana, Idaho State, Idaho
8:40 a.m.-9:20 a.m. – Montana State, Northern Colorado, Northern Arizona
 

PORTLAND STATE PLAYERS IN THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

 
Payten Shimizu
2023: 77-74-70=221, t13th
2024: 79-DNP-75
2025: 75-76-76=227, t32nd
 
Bayler Brundage
2023: 80-85-79=244, 44^th
2024: 75-73-78=226, t30th
2025: 75-74-77=226, t27th
 
Cynthia Valerie Ong
2024: 75-76-75=226, t30th
2025: 78-81-74=233, 38th
 
Momo Udom
2024: DNP-80-DNP
2025: 75-78-71=224, t21st

2025-26 SEASON SCHEDULE

FALL SEASON
Sept. 15-16, Yellowstone Intercollegiate, hosted by Montana State, Riverside Country Club, Bozeman, MT, 9^th of 11 teams, 299-304-301=904
Sept. 22-23, Kalispel Invitational, hosted by Eastern Washington, Kalispel Golf and Country Club, Spokane, WA, 12^th of 14 teams, 314-298-304=916         
Sept. 29-30, Pat Lesser-Harbottle Invitational, hosted by Seattle, Tacoma Country Club, Tacoma, WA, t13th of 15 teams, 304-314-306=924
Oct. 6-7, Sun Mountain Intercollegiate, hosted by Montana, The Ranch Club, Missoula, MT, 2^nd of 6 teams, 294-297-295=886
 
SPRING SEASON
Feb. 10-11, Bowling Green Intercollegiate, hosted by Bowling Green State, Wigwam Golf Club, Litchfield, AZ, 12^th of 15 teams, 310-306-312=928
Mar. 2-3, Fresno State Spring Classic, Fresno State, Fort Washington Golf and Country Club, Fresno, AZ, 10^th of 11 teams, 315-310-310=935
Mar. 16-17, Jackrabbits Invitational, South Dakota State, Boulder Creek Golf Club, Boulder City, NV, 5^th or 10 teams, 294-293-291=878
Apr. 13-15, Bobcat Desert Classic, Montana State, Golf Club of Estrella, Goodyear, AZ, 8^th of 13 teams, 293-301-304=898
Apr. 20-22, Big Sky Championship, Big Sky Conference, Wigwam Golf Club - Blue Course, Litchfield, AZ