Bearcats Win Team and Individual Titles, as 2nd Day of Willamette Cup is Canceled

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

OREGON CITY, Ore. -- The second day of the Willamette Cup in men's golf was unable to be played on Sunday, Feb. 26 due to wet grounds and the chance for additional rain at Stone Creek Golf Club. Willamette University, which topped the standings at end of the first round, was declared the champion. Trent Jones (So., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) of Willamette, who held a four-stroke lead after 18 holes were played on Saturday, won the individual title.

Willamette earned the team title at the Willamette Cup for the fourth consecutive season. The Bearcats placed second at the first Willamette Cup in 2012 and then took third place in 2013. Willamette began its string of four consecutive titles in 2014.

The Bearcats recorded this year's championship with a score of 304 on Saturday. Linfield College took second place at 312, while Lewis & Clark College finished third at 320. Pacific University was fourth at 333.

Jones carded an even-par 72 in the only round of the tournament to grab the individual title. Peter Mitzel (Sr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) of Willamette and three other golfers tied for second place at 76. Joining Mitzel in the tie were Lucas Balala and Max Hanson from Linfield and Luke Olson of Pacific.

Willamette golfers Collin Fuller (Sr., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS) and Sam Hinton (So., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS) each tied for sixth place, along with Isaac Grebisz from Linfield. All three athletes registered scores of 77. Kenneth Sheldon (So., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) of WU shot a 78 and was one of four competitors who tied for ninth place.

Mitzel and teammate Clark Wilson (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) have competed at all four Willamette Cup tournaments won by the Bearcats. Wilson shot an 81 to tie for 13th place this weekend.

Also competing for the Bearcats were Dylan King (So., Cottonwood, CA/West Valley HS) and Spencer Hong (Jr., Bellevue, WA/Singapore American School). King carded a 90 and Hong shot a 93.

The next tournament for the Willamette men's team will be the University of Puget Sound Invitational on March 4-5. Both rounds are scheduled to be held at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Washington.