Smith Earns All-Region Recognition for 2023-24 Season from GCAA
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Oliver Smith (So., San Jose, CA/Pioneer HS) from the Willamette University men's golf team has been chosen for the NCAA Division III PING All-Region 7 Team for the 2023-24 season by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). The All-Region 7 Team included 15 golfers from the West Coast and Texas.
Smith was one of just two golfers from the Northwest Conference who earned All-Region 7 honors. The other golfer was Mason Remington from Whitman College. This year, the GCAA and PING honored a total of 105 golfers on seven All-Region teams nationwide. Each All-Region team included 15 golfers.
Willamette finished second in the final standings for the 2023-24 overall NWC Championship after taking second place at the NWC Tournament, which counted for half of the NWC title. The NWC Fall Classic was worth one-fourth of the championship and the NWC Spring Classic was worth one-fourth of the title. Willamette placed fifth at the NWC Fall Classic and won the NWC Spring Classic.
NCAA Division III PING All-Region 7
Oliver Smith (So.) was selected All-Region 7 for the first time. In addition, he was chosen Second Team All-NWC for the second year in a row. At the NWC Tournament, he tied for 11th place with a 36-hole score of 150 (76-74).
During the year, he achieved a 73.6 adjusted stroke average over 22 rounds. He won both of Willamette's 18-hole meets against Linfield University, as he shot a 6-under park 65 in the Bearcat Challenge #1 at Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis, Oregon, on April 13, and carded a 2-under par 69 in the Bearcat Challenge #2 at Langdon Farms Golf Club in Aurora, Oregon, on April 14.
He took third place at the 36-hole GFU Invitational with a score of even-par 144 (74-70) at the Arrowhead Golf Club in Molalla, Oregon, on March 23-24. He tied for fifth place at the NWC Spring Classic with two-round score of 1-under par 143 at The Home Course in DuPont, Washington, on April 7-8. He shot a 70 and a 73.
In 2022-23, Smith took third place in the individual standings at the NWC Tournament with a score of 2-under par 142 after shooting rounds of 69 and 73. He was named NWC Men's Golf Rookie of the Year and earned Second Team All-NWC honors.
PING Men's Golf
NCAA Division III All-Region Teams
2024-24 Season