Bearcats Move into 2nd Place at NWC Tournament, as Olson Ties for 4th

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

AURORA, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team moved up in the 2024 Northwest Conference Tournament standings from third place after the first round into second place following the final round at Langdon Farms Golf Club on Sunday, April 21. Willamette improved from a team score of 302 in the first round to a score of 292 in the second round. The Bearcats shot the second lowest round of the event on Sunday, surpassed only by Whitman College's 288 on Sunday.

In the individual standings, Brock Olson (So., Kirkland, WA/Lake Washington HS) of Willamette finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the tournament. Olson shot 148 over the two days on the par-71 course. He carded a 77 in the first round and an even-par 71 in the second round. He tied for fourth with Riley Lynch of Linfield University, who shot 73-75, and with Douglas Bailey of Linfield, who carded 71-77.

Whitman took first place in the team standings at the NWC Tournament with a score of 582 (294-288). Willamette was second at 594 (302-292) and Linfield was third at 598 (290-308). The Bearcats began Sunday trailing Linfield by 12 strokes, but gained a 16-stroke advantage in the second round.

Whitworth University was fourth at 605 (310-295), while Pacific Lutheran University was fifth at 613 (312-301) and the University of Puget Sound was sixth at 633 (326-307). Pacific University placed seventh at 636 (317-319) and George Fox University was eighth at 652 (339-313).

Mason Remington of Whitman won the individual title at the NWC Tournament with a score of 4-under par 138. He shot even-par 71 in the first round and recorded the low round of the event with a 67 in the second round. He won by seven strokes. Alex Knox of Whitman was second at 145 (71-74) and Ben Sweet, also from Whitman, was third at 147 (75-72).

Olson, Lynch, and Bailey were next in the three-way tie for fourth at 148. Preston Lightle (Fy., Victoria, BC, Canada/Belmont Senior Secondary School) of Willamette was one of four golfers tied for seventh place at 149. Lightle shot 72-77, while Brenden Borck of George Fox shot 77-72, Marus Otto of Pacific Lutheran carded 78-71, and Sam Pauley from Whitworth shto 73-76.

Oliver Smith (So., San Jose, CA/Pioneer HS) from Willamette shot 150 and was tied for 11th place with Trevor Price of Linfield. Smith registered scores of 76 and 74, while Price shot 71 and 79.

Joining Olson, Lightle, and Smith on Willamette's team were Jack Carr (Fy., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage HS) and Alexander Papajohn (Fy., Parker, CO/Lutheran HS) who tied for 13th place at 151. Carr shot 77-74 and Papajohn shot 78-73.

The NWC Tournament is worth one-half of the overall NWC championship each year. The NWC Fall Classic is worth one-fourth of the title and the NWC Spring Classic is worth one-fourth. Willamette took fifth place at the NWC Fall Classic and won the NWC Spring Classic, before placing second at the NWC Tournament.

Willamette finished second in the final standings for the 2023-24 overall NWC Championship. Whitman won the championship with 30.5 points and Willamette followed with 26 points. Whitworth claimed third place with 23.5 points, edging out Linfield, which took fourth place with 23 points. Pacific Lutheran placed fifth at 14 points, George Fox was sixth with 11, Puget Sound was seventh with 9, Pacific was eighth with 7, and Lewis & Clark was ninth with no points.

At the conclusion of the NWC Tournament, the 2023-24 All-Northwest Conference selections were announced. Olson earned First Team All-NWC honors, while Smith and Lightle were named Second Team All-NWC. Remington of Whitman was named NWC Men's Golf Player of the Year and was also chosen as the NWC Men's Golf Rookie of the Year. Whitman College Head Coach Bill Howard was voted NWC Men's Golf Coach of the Year.