Weirth Wins Individual Title at GFU Invitational with 1-under-par 143

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

GEARHART, Ore. -- Willamette University golfer Alex Weirth (Fy., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) won the individual championship at the George Fox University Invitational with a 36-hole score of 1-under-par 143, as action concluded on Sunday, Oct. 6 at Gearhart Golf Course. Weirth shot even-par 72 in the first round on Saturday, and followed up with a 1-under 71 on Sunday. Andrew Kibbee (So., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) of WU tied for fourth place at 146. In the final team standings, Willamette was third with a score of 600.

Weirth grabbed the title by a single stroke. Joshua Lackey from George Fox University took second place at even-par 144 after shooting a 74 in the first round and then adding the tournament's low round with a 70 on Sunday. Clayton Rajewich of GFU was third at 145 (71-74).

Kibbee and Mason Koch of George Fox, who began the day as two of three golfers tied for 10th, each shot a 1-under-par 71 in the second round to tie for fourth place at 146. Jared Beals of Pacific Lutheran University and Owen Rosebeck from Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) tied for sixth place at 147, as both golfers shot 72-75. Eighth place also was a two-way tie, as Ryan Pearson from PLU and Matthew McClure of Linfield College finished at 148. Pearson carded scores of 71 and 77, while McClure shot 72-76. Alex Nelson from PLU was 10th at 150 (74-76).

Willamette's Austin Davis (So., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) was one of three competitors who tied for 11th place at 151. Joining Davis in the tie were Jordan Lau from Pacific Lutheran and Carson Linville from Linfield. Davis shot 75-76, Lau earned scores of 77 and 74, and Linville shot 79-72.

Also competing for Willamette were Carlos Cortes Dequidt (Fy., San Diego, CA/Torrey Pines HS) and Tyler Shreve (So., Buffalo, WY/Buffalo HS). Cortes Dequidt registered a score of 160 (77-83) and Shreve shot 169 (84-85).

"This weekend was another good showing for our very young team. Three of our five players had never seen the golf course until Friday, so their learning curves were pretty steep. However, being as young as they are, they displayed a very high level of maturity and grit over the weekend. I was very pleased to see Alex Weirth claim his first collegiate victory so early on in the season. It definitely sends a message to the rest of the players in our conference that he is here to stay.

"Towards the end of his round on Sunday, Alex had a three-shot lead that after hole 16 was cut to just one stroke in a matter of minutes. Despite things looking like they might not end up in his favor, he maintained a level of focus and determination far beyond his age. I think it is because of his good-natured and positive attitude that he was able to stay on track and hold on to his lead until the end."
— Willamette Assistant Coach Sam Hinton

George Fox claimed the team title by six strokes at 591. The Bruins carded a team score of 296 in the first round and shot 295 in the second round. Pacific Lutheran was second at 597 (291-306). Willamette was third at 600 (299-301), as the Bearcats finished just three shots behind the Lutes. Linfield placed fourth at 612 (314-298), while Pomona-Pitzer was fifth at 614 (310-304). Whitman was sixth with a score of 622 (319-303) and Pacific University was seventh at 659 (339-320).

Willamette will compete at the NWC Fall Classic on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13 at the Oregon Golf Association (OGA) Golf Course in Woodburn, Oregon. The tournament will be hosted by George Fox.