Bearcats Finish 2nd at Bushnell Fall Invitational as Weirth Ties for 2nd Place
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
CRESWELL, Ore. -- Willamette University took second place in the team standings at the Bushnell Fall Invitational, led by Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy), who tied for second place in the individual standings, as the 36-hole tournament concluded on Monday, Oct. 18. The event, which began with 18 holes on Sunday, Oct. 17, was held at the Emerald Valley Golf Club.
Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) claimed the team title with a score of 591. The Warriors, who are ranked #14 in the NAIA Men's Golf Coaches' Top 25 Poll, shot 301 in the first round to trail WU by one stroke, then carded a 290 in the second round to win the title. Willamette, ranked #22 in the Bushnell/Golfweek NCAA Division III Coaches Poll, earned second place at 594 with rounds of 300 and 294. Corban University was third at 617 (310-307) and Skagit Valley College (Wash.) took fourth at 627 (321-306). Bushnell University placed fifth with a score of 629 (324-305), while College of Idaho was sixth at 647 (316-331), and the Willamette "B" team was seventh at 679 (334-345). Simpson University (Calif.) did not field a full team.
The individual title was won by Jackson Muramoto of Bushnell with a total score of 7-under par 137. He shot a 2-under 70 in the first round and added the low round of the tournament on Monday with a 5-under 67. Weirth, Caden Stubbs of Bushnell, and Kristof Panke of Lewis-Clark State tied for second at 142. Weirth carded rounds of 73 and 3-under par 69. Stubbs shot 74 and 4-under 68, while Panke shot 72 and 70.
Tristan Belue from College of Idaho, who led the field after 18 holes on Sunday at 3-under 69, finished the tournament with a 74 and slipped to fifth place at 143. Jorgen Viken from Lewis-Clark State was sixth at 145 (74-71) and Austin Davis (Sr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) of Willamette was seventh at 17 (74-73). Paxton Jones (Fy., Wellington, NZ/Scots College) of Willamette tied for eighth place with Cole Radbourne from Bushnell, as each golfer shot 150. Jones carded rounds of 76 and 74, while Radbourne earned scores of 77 and 73. Alex Hochsprung from Skagit Valley (79-72) and Carlos Davila from Lewis-Clark State (78-72) shared 10th place at 151.
Andrew Cerqui (Fy., Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS) led the WU "B" team with a score of 164 as he shot 80 and 84. Carlos Cortes Dequidt (Jr., San Diego, CA/Torrey Pines HS) cared a 154 with rounds of 84 and 82. Reese Hamilton (So., Lopez Island, WA/Lopez Middle HS) shot 174 (85-89) and Andrew Raymond (Sr., Napa, CA/Napa HS) shot 175 (85-90).
Willamette has completed its fall schedule. The Bearcats will return to action during the spring semester.