Willamette Concludes Season Tied for #25 in Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team is tied for #25 in the nation in the Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll for NCAA Division III released on Friday, May 6. It is the final poll of the season.

Methodist College (N.C.) remained #1 with 349 points and 13 of 14 first place votes. Methodist retained the #1 ranking throughout the season. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) remained at #2 with 321 points. Oglethorpe University (Ga.) continued to hold the #3 position and received 319 points.

Berry College (Ga.) and University of St. Thomas (Minn.) were tied for fourth place with 281 points. In the previous poll, Berry was fifth and St. Thomas was sixth.

Emory University (Ga.) received the only first place vote that didn't go to Methodist. Emory was 12th in the poll with 173 points.

Northwest Conference opponent Whitworth University was not ranked in the Top 25, but was listed among other teams receiving votes with 15 points.

Willamette finished in second place in the overall NWC standings. The Bearcats won or tied for the team title at seven of 11 tournaments during the season, including first place at the NWC Spring Classic.

Peter Mitzel (Jr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) and Steven Rodriguez (Sr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) were named First Team All-NWC. Chase Lamothe (Sr., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS) earned Second Team All-NWC recognition.