Willamette Competes in First Two Rounds of San Antonio DIII Shootout

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The Willamette University men's golf team played two rounds on Monday, Feb. 20 during the first day of the San Antonio DIII Shootout, hosted by Schreiner University at the TPC San Antonio on the Canyons Course. The 54-hole tournament will conclude with the third round on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Willamette was seventh after the first round, but moved into a tie for sixth place with University of St. Thomas (Texas) at the end of the second round.

In the individual standings, Jack McMullin (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) and Paxton Jones (So., Wellington, NZ/Scots College) from Willamette were tied for 15th place out of 50 competitors after 36 holes. McMullin and Jones each shot 7-over par 151 with McMullin carding 72-79 and Jones shooting 77-74. The even-par 72 by Jones on the first 18 holes was WU's low round of the day.

Oliver Smith (Fy., San Jose, CA/Pioneer HS) of Willamette was tied with four golfers for 17th on the leaderboard at 152. Smith, who is competing as an individual, shot a 77 in the first round and a 75 in the second round.

Joining McMullin and Jones on Willamette's five-person team entry are Andrew Kibbee (Grad., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS), Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy), and Riley Lankford (Grad., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS). Kibbee carded an overall score of 153 (77-76). Weirth shot 157 (80-77) and Lankford earned a 158 (80-78).

Southwestern University (Texas) topped the team standings at 587 (287-300). Schreiner was seven strokes back in second place at 594 (295-299) and the University of Redlands was third at 602 (304-298). Concordia University Texas followed in fourth place at 607 (302-305), while Friends University (Kansas) was fifth at 609. Willamette and St. Thomas were tied for sixth at 611, with WU shooting 306-305 and St. Thomas shooting 305-306. Webster University (Mo.) was eighth at 629 (313-316) and George Fox University was ninth at 651 (324-327).

Zhao Yung Gu of Schreiner held first place on the individual leaderboard at 6-under par 138 after shooting 67 and 71. He owned a four-stroke lead over Christian Ridriguez from Southwestern, who was second at 2-under 142 (69-73). Nicholas Hoisington of Southwestern was in third place at 1-under par 143 (68-75). Carson Gallaher, competing as an individual from the University of Texas at San Antonio, was fourth at even-par 144 (72-72). Aaron Buck from Redlands and individual golfer Patrick Kahanek from UTSA were tied for fifth place at 145. Buck carded scores of 73 and 72, while Kahanek shot 74 and 71.

Tied for seventh place at 147 were Cameron Curtis from St. Thomas and Travis Skorheim of Concordia Texas. Kiser's scores were 71-76 and Skorheim's results were 73-74. Cade Kiser of St. Thomas and Zane Mularski from Redlands were tied for ninth at 148, as both golfers shot 77-71.