Willamette Moves Up to 8th, Kibbee Shoots 1-Under, at NCAA Tournament

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

WHEELING, W.Va. -- Willamette University moved up five positions into eighth place and Andrew Kibbee (Jr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) shot a 1-under par 70 during the third round of the 2021 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship on Thursday, May 13 at the Oglebay Resort and Convention Center. Willamette carded a team score of 297 for the second day in a row. The Bearcats own a 54-hole score of 898 (304-297-297) with the final round set for Friday, May 14.

Kibbee's solid third round advanced him into a tie for 18th place at 222 (80, 72, 70). Alex Weirth (So., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) of Willamette shot a 1-over 72 in the third round and is tied for 24th with an overall total of 223 (75-76-72). Austin Davis (Jr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) registered a score of 79 on Thursday and is tied for 26th at 224 (73-72-79). Aunders Erickson (Grad., Portland, OR/Westview HS/Ohio Wesleyan Univ.) shot a 76 and ended the day tied for 54th at 229 (76-77-76). Riley Lankford (So./Fy., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS) earned his best round of the tournament so far with an 83, giving him an overall score of 255 (87-85-83).

Weirth led the Bearcats with sixth birdies on Thursday, while Kibbee achieved five birdies. Kibbee was over par on just three holes during the round with two bogeys and one double bogey.

First place in the team standings remained with Illinois Wesleyan University, which carded a 287 in the third round for a total of 15-over par 863 (290-286-287) after 72 holes. Methodist University (N.C.) stayed in second place at 878 (300-281-297). Denison University (Ohio) moved up on spot to third place at 880 (305-285-290), while Guilford College (N.C.) fell one position into fourth place at 883 (302-286-295). Emory University (Ga.) improved by three positions and was fifth after the third round at 886 (296-300-290).

Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) was sixth with a score of 893 (300-291-302) and Huntingdon College (Ala.) was seventh at 894 (289-305-300). Willamette's score of 898 followed in eighth place, with Christopher Newport University (Va.) in ninth at 900 (307-289-304), and Trinity University (Texas) in 10th at 903 (313-291-299). Willamette's 297 on Thursday tied with Methodist for the fifth lowest team score of the third round. The low score of the round was recorded by Illinois Wesleyan at 287.

During the first two rounds each of the 37 teams played the par 70 Palmer Course once and the par 71 Jones Course once. All 18 teams that survived the cut after the second round competed at the Jones Course in the third round. All of the teams will play the Jones Course in the final round.

The individual leaderboard after three rounds was topped by four golfers at 2-over par 214. Tied for the lead were Marc Mitchell (72-71-71) of Denison, Jimmy Morton (70-71-73) from Illinois Wesleyan, Will Hocker (69-72-73) from Webster University (Mo.), and Andrew Chi (72-65-77) of Methodist. Rob Weuthrich from Illinois Wesleyan was alone in fifth place at 215 (72-71-72). 

Two golfers -- Ethan Wilkins of Illinois Wesleyan and Cooper Hrabak from Methodist were tied for sixth place at 217. Wilkins shot 75-70-72 and Hrabak carded 75-69-73. Robb Kinder from Christopher Newport was eighth with a score of 218 (77-71-70). Carnegie Mellon golfers Jason Li and Jason Folker were tied for ninth at 219, with Li shooting 74-72-73 and Folker shooting 71-72-76.