Willamette Takes Third Place at GFU Men's Invitational

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

NEWBERG, ORE. -- Led by senior golfer Shane Adversalo (Sr., Honolulu, HI/University Laboratory School), the Willamette University Bearcats placed third in the team standings at the George Fox Men's Invitational, which concluded on Sunday, Sept. 20 at the Chehalem Glenn Golf Course. Adversalo took fourth place individually, as he concluded the tournament with a score of 154 (79-75).

Linfield College won the team title with a score of 603 (303-300). The Wildcats held a sizable margin over Pacific University, which earned second place at 635 (316-319). Willamette's third place finish was at 651 points, which included a nine-stroke improvement in the second round, from 330 to 321.

In the process, WU dropped George Fox to fourth place at 658. The Bruins were tied for second after the first round at 316, but ballooned to a 342 during the second round. Lewis & Clark College was fifth at 747 (367-380).

Adversalo was tied for eighth with a 79 after the first round was completed. He passed four golfers over the final 18 holes, ultimately finishing one stroke in front of Tony Kordosky of Linfield, who took fifth at 155 (77-78).

Medalist honors went to Tyler Nelson of Linfield with a 1-under-par 143. He carded 72 and 71 to win by three strokes over Max Bonk of Pacific, who was second at 146 (73-73). Alex Fitch of Linfield was third with a score of 147 (75-72). Adversalo and Kordosky followed, with Sean Hamer of Pacific holding sixth place at 159 (80-79).

Taylor McKenzie (So., Hermiston, OR/Hermiston HS) of Willamette was one of four golfers tied for eighth place at 162. McKenzie registered an 83 in the first round before finishing with a 79. Alexander Bennett (Sr. Sammamish, WA/Skyline High School), also from WU, placed 15th at 166 (83-83).

The tournament was originally slated for one round on Saturday, Sept. 19, followed by another round on Sunday. Action was suspended partway through the first round due to darkness, so the opening 18 holes were concluded prior to the originally scheduled final round.

Willamette was competing for the first time under first-year Head Coach Noah Horstman. The Bearcats will return to action on Sept. 26-27 at the Pacific Invitational. The tournament will be held at the Quail Valley Golf Course in Bankds, Ore., and is set to get underway at 12 p.m. (PDT) each day.