Bearcats Win Battle at Bar Run, as Weirth Edges Paul in Playoff for First Place

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

ROSEBURG, Ore. -- Willamette University took first place in the team standings, while Bearcats Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) and Lucas Paul (Fy., Salem, OR/South Salem HS) tied for first place in regulation and went to a playoff, as the Battle at Bar Run was shortened to 18 holes on Tuesday, March 14. Weirth shot a par on the second playoff hole to outlast Paul and claim medalist honors on the par-70 Bar Run Golf Course.

All 38 competitors in the tournament finished between eight and 10 holes during the opening round on Monday before play was suspended. Since only a portion of the overall field completed nine holes, Monday's round was canceled.

Willamette won the team championship by 14 strokes. The Bearcats shot a team score of 5-under par 275. Bushnell University (Ore.) prevailed in a three-way battle for second place, as the Beacons shot 9-over par 289. Simpson University (Calif.) and Multnomah University (Ore.) each shot 290 to tie for third place. Southern Oregon University earned a score of 297 for fifth place, and Oregon Institute of Technology placed sixth at 301.

Weirth and Paul each carded a 5-under par 65 during Tuesday's round. The two Willamette golfers advanced into a playoff and matched scores on the first playoff hole. The second hole of the playoff was the ninth hole, where Weirth shot a par to earn first place. Paul achieved second place.

The Willamette duo was followed by Jackson Muramoto from Bushnell, who took third place with a 4-under par 66. Andrew Kibbee (Grad., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) of Willamette was fourth at 3-under par 67, while Dean Knight from Simpson was fifth with a 2-under par 68. Hayden Lazeo of Bushnell also finished below par, as he placed sixth with a 1-under 69.

Paxton Jones (So., Wellington, NZ/Scots College) provided the Bearcats with seventh place at 1-over par 71. Eight golfers, including Brock Olson (Fy., Kirkland, WA/Lake Washington HS) of Willamette, tied for eight place at 72. Nathaniel Frink from Southern Oregon was 16th at 73. Hogan Smith (Jr., Prineville, OR/Crook County HS) of WU shared 17th place with three other golfers.

Also golfing for the Bearcats were Jack McMullin (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), Riley Lankford (Grad., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS), and Carlos Cortes Dequidt (Sr., San Diego, CA/Torrey Pines HS). McMullin shot a 75, while Lankford and Cortes Dequidt each carded a 76.

The team entry for the Bearcats included Weirth, Kibbee, Jones, Olson, and Lankford. Paul, Smith, McMullin, and Cortes Dequidt competed as individuals.