Daugherty is NWC Coach of the Year; Three Bearcats are First Team All-NWC

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University Head Coach Patrick Daugherty has been named the NWC Men's Golf Coach of the Year for the 2020-21 season. In addition, three Willamette golfers have earned First Team All-NWC recognition after helping the Bearcats win the NWC Championship. Willamette's All-NWC selections were Alex Weirth (So., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy), Andrew Kibbee (Jr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) and Austin Davis (Jr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS). Also, Riley Lankford (So./Fy., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS) was named to the NWC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Twelve student-athletes were selected for the 2020-21 All-Northwest Conference Men's Golf Team. Six golfers qualified for the First Team and six golfers were on the Second Team.

The Bearcats won the 2020-21 NWC Championship after taking first place at the NWC Spring Classic and second place at both the NWC Fall Classic and the NWC Tournament. The NWC Championship was based on all three tournaments. By winning the championship, Willamette earned the NWC's automatic bid for a full team of five golfers at the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship, set for May 11-14 at the Oglebay Resort and Conference Center in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Reilly Hegarty of Whitworth University, who won the individual title at the NWC Tournament this past weekend, was named NWC Men's Golf Player of the Year. Caden Arnold from Pacific Lutheran University was chosen NWC Men's Golf Freshman of the Year.

First Team All-Northwest Conference

Alex Weirth (So.) was selected First Team All-NWC for the first time. He registered an unadjusted stroke average of 75.13 this spring. He recorded a low round of 70 at the NWC Spring Classic. He placed third at the NWC Fall Classic and the NWC Tournament. He finished sixth at the NWC Spring Classic.

In two seasons with the Bearcats, Weirth has competed in 21 rounds with a 73.29 unadjusted stroke average. In 2019-20, he won two tournaments and was named NWC Men's Golf Student-Athlete of the Week twice. He achieved his career low round of 69 two times last year -- at the Bulldog Fall Invitational and the Puget Sound Invitational. He was chosen for the PING All-West Region Team in 2019-20 with a 72.15 unadjusted stroke average.

"Alex has put together such a good follow-up to his freshman year," Daugherty said. "Let's not forget he won two events as a freshman and was honored on the PING  All-West Region Team. He got off to a rough start early, but worked really hard through it. Of course, I'm proud, but even more so by his character. He is the ultimate team guy ... great work ethic, great competitive nature."

Andrew Kibbee (Jr.) was chosen First Team All-NWC this season after earning Second Team All-NWC honors in 2018-19. This year, he led the Bearcats with a 73.63 unadjusted stroke average. He took first place at the NWC Spring Classic with a 5-under par 139. He achieved his career-low round of 67 on the first day of the Spring Classic. Kibbee finished second at the NWC Fall Classic and was third at the Pacific Invitational. He tied for ninth at the NWC Tournament.

During his three years with the Bearcats, he has recorded a 75.07 unadjusted career stroke average, while placing in the top 10 at 13 of 18 tournaments. He placed 88th at the NCAA Men's Golf Championship in 2018-19. In addition to winning the NWC Spring Classic this year, has produced wins at the 2018-19 Pacific Spring Invitational and the 2019-20 NWC Fall Classic. He has been named NWC Men's Golf Student-Athlete of the Week a total of three times.

 "Andrew didn't just come out of nowhere," Daugherty commented. "We have to remember he won at Quail Valley his freshman year, then won the Fall Classic his sophomore year, and followed that up with a second place finish this year at the Fall Classic and a win at the Spring Classic. His scoring average is at the top in conference and I think this year has solidified himself as definitely a top player. I really love working with Andrew and have enjoyed watching him transform as a player, leader, and overall great young man."

Austin Davis (Jr.) was named First Team All-NWC for the second time. In 2018-19, he was chosen First Team All-NWC and was the NWC Men's Golf Freshman of the Year after placing in the top five at all three NWC events. In 2019-20, he was ninth at the NWC Fall Classic. This year, he was second at the NWC Tournament and was sixth at the NWC Spring Classic, while achieving a 74.25 unadjusted stroke average for the season.

He was Willamette's top finisher at the 2018-19 NCAA Men's Golf Championship, as he earned 24th place in the individual standings. During his WU career, he has placed in the top 10 at 15 of 19 tournaments, including 11 top 5 results. He won this year's Pacific Invitational.

Davis owns a 73.68 unadjusted career stroke average. He registered a career-low round of 69 in both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. He was named to the PING All-West Region Team in 2019-20 after earning a 72.23 unadjusted stroke average. He has been chosen NWC Men's Golf Student-Athlete of the Week two times in his career.

"I am really happy for Austin," Daugherty said. "He got his first college win this year and I thought really grew into a team captain role. He's not a 'rah-rah' type of guy, but when he talks they listen. He's earned this honor and I'm just really proud. He's in it for the long term, and this will be another step in experience for him. I definitely believe he's a top 6 player in the conference." 

NWC All-Sportsmanship Team

Riley Lankford (So./Fy.) was chosen as Willamette's student-athlete on the NWC All-Sportsmanship Team in men's golf. This spring, he competed in all four tournaments. He recorded low rounds of 75 on the second day of the NWC Spring Classic and the first day of the NWC Tournament. He attained his top finish of 11th place at the NWC Tournament.

"Riley is the most genuine guy you can have on a team," Daugherty noted. "He never gets too high and never gets too low, he is just always in complete control. He comes off as quiet but put him on the course and he is such a great competitor. I mean he really likes to compete. He is his own worst critic and bounces back from bad breaks, or play not up to his standards, as good if not better than any guy we've had. He's dependable and tough. I nominated Riley for the Sportsmanship Award not just because of his genuine respect for other teams and players but also because of his character."

NWC Men's Golf Coach of the Year

Head Coach Patrick Daugherty was voted NWC Men's Golf Coach of the Year for the second time after guiding Willamette to the 2020-21 NWC Championship. He also received the award in 2018-19 when the Bearcats won the NWC Championship and took 13th place at the NCAA Championship. The Bearcats have earned the NWC's automatic bid once again to compete at the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship. The Bearcats have won two of four tournaments this spring and have placed second in the other events.

In Daugherty's eight seasons as the head coach of the Bearcats, the Willamette has won 31 tournaments, including 22 tournaments in the past five years. This season, WU earned a 299 team stroke average. Prior to becoming WU's head coach, Daugherty was the Bearcats' assistant coach for three seasons.