Bearcats are Set to Battle at Northwest Conference Spring Classic

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team is ready to compete at the Northwest Conference Spring Classic on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14 at the Olympia Golf & Country Club, in Olympia, Washington. The 36-hole event will include one round on Saturday and one round on Sunday.

The NWC Spring Classic is one of three tournaments used to determine the overall NWC champion. The Fall Classic, held last October, was worth one-fourth of the overall title and the NWC Spring Classic also will be worth one-fourth. The NWC Tournament on April 27-28 at Wine Valley Golf Club, in Walla Walla, Washington, will count for one-half of the title.

Whitworth University won the NWC Fall Classic with a score of 600 (295-305). Willamette placed second by registering a score of 604 (302-302). Pacific Lutheran rounded out the top three at 607 (298-309).

The Pirates lead the current NWC standings with 8 points. Willamette follows with 7 points, and Pacific Lutheran University has 6 points. George Fox University is fourth with 5 points, followed by Linfield College with 4 points, University of Puget Sound with 3 points, Lewis & Clark College with 2 points, Pacific University with 1 point, and Whitman College with 0 points.

Jordan Brajcich of Pacific Lutheran was the individual champion at the Fall Classic with a score of 144 (68-76). Derrick Phelps from Whitworth was second at 145 (72-73). Mason Koch from George Fox was after shooting 146 (73-73).

Willamette golfers Austin Davis (Fr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) and Andrew Kibbee (Fr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) were involved in a three-way tie for third place at 149. Davis and Kibbee both shot 76-73. Tom Hoyne of Whitman College also carded a 149 with scores of 77 and 72.

Tee times for the first round of the men's competition at the NWC Spring Classic will begin at 12:30 p.m. (PDT) on Saturday and will continue until 2:50 p.m. The first golfer to begin the round for Willamette will be Davis at 1:20 p.m. (PDT). Sam Hinton (Sr., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS) has a tee time of 1:30 p.m. He will be followed by Trent Jones (Sr., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) at 1:40 p.m., Kenneth Sheldon (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) at 1:50 p.m., and Andrew Kibbee at 2 p.m.