Men’s Golf Dominates All-Conference List

Michael Baldwin Named NWC Rookie of the Year

Michael Baldwin
April 23, 2026

SALEM, Ore. – On the heels of a dominant conference title victory, the Northwest Conference (NWC) has announced the 2026 Men's Golf All-Conference selections. The Willamette University Bearcats led the field with four student-athletes earning All-NWC honors, headlined by freshman Michael Baldwin being named the 2026 NWC Rookie of the Year.

Baldwin Earns Major Award

Michael Baldwin (Fy., Portland, Ore. / Central Catholic HS) becomes the latest Bearcat to earn Rookie of the Year honors after a standout debut campaign. Baldwin's season was defined by consistency, culminating in a fourth-place individual finish (-2) at the NWC Championship. In addition to his major award, he was named to the All-NWC First Team.

Bearcats Dominate First Team Selections

Willamette's depth was on full display as the Bearcats occupied three of the four spots on the All-NWC First Team. Joining Baldwin on the top squad are:

  • Brock Olson (Sr., Kirkland, Wash. / Lake Washington HS): A veteran leader for the Bearcats, Olson earned First Team honors after a spectacular performance at the NWC Championship, where he finished tied for first individually with a two-day total of 137 (-5).

  • Alexander Papajohn (Jr., Parker, Colo. / Lutheran HS): Earning his spot on the First Team, Papajohn finished the conference championship in solo third place, carding a 139 (-3) to help anchor the Bearcats' winning team score.

Smith Named to Third Team

Rounding out the accolades for Willamette is senior Oliver Smith (San Jose, Calif. / Pioneer HS), who was named to the All-NWC Third Team. Smith played a pivotal role in the Bearcats' success this season, securing a top-10 finish at the conference championship with a total of 144 (+2).

Championship Context

These individual honors follow a historic weekend for the program at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, where Willamette captured the 2026 NWC Team Championship. The Bearcats finished with a team total of 560 (-8), outstripping the nearest competitor by 14 strokes. With the victory, Willamette has officially secured the conference's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship.