Weirth Wins Puget Sound Invite at 5-under 139, as Bearcats Tie for 4th

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

DuPONT, Wash. -- Alex Weirth (Fy., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) from Willamette University shot a 3-under-par 69 during the second round of the Puget Sound Invitational in men's golf to secure the individual championship, as the 36-hole tournament concluded at The Home Course on Sunday, March 8. Weirth earned a 36-hole score of 139 to win by one stroke over Scott Rohlinger of Bellevue Community College (Wash). Weirth trailed Rohlinger by one stroke entering the second round, but gained two strokes over the final 18 holes. Austin Davis (So., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) of Willamette tied for fifth place at 146.

In the team standings, Pacific Lutheran University and Bellevue CC tied for first place at 582. Pacific Lutheran shot 293 and 289, while Bellevue shot 294 and 288. University of Puget Sound placed third at 602 (303-299). Willamette tied for fourth with Whitman College at 603. The Bearcats put together two consistent rounds with a score of 301 on Saturday and a score of 302 on Sunday. Whitman shot 306 and 297. Both teams finished just one stroke behind Puget Sound.

Grays Harbor College (Wash.) placed fifth at 617 (310-307), while Linfield College took seventh place at 628 (308-320). Olympic College (Wash.) was eighth at 629 (318-311).

Weirth opened the tournament with a 70 in the first round. His score of 69 in the second round tied him with Rohlinger for low round of the tournament. Rohlinger carded a 69 in the first round and a 71 in the second round. Gunner Nelson of PLU earned third place at 142 with a 72 and a 70.

Travis Bessio of Grays Harbor was fourth at 145 (75-70). A two-way tie for fifth at 146 featured Austin of Willamette and Jared Beals of Pacific Lutheran. Davis carded 71-75, and Beals shot 74-72. Tom Hoyne from Whitman was seventh at 147, as he produced rounds of 71 and 75.

Willamette's team entry also included Carlos Cortes Dequidt (Fy., San Diego, CA/Torrey Pines HS) and Chikatsu Sugawara. Cortes Dequidt achieved a score of 157 (79-78). Sugawara's score was 161 (81-80).

The Bearcats will host the Willamette Valley Cup at Creekside Country Club in Salem, Oregon, on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15.