Bearcats are Eighth after First Day of NWC Championship

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

KENNEWICK, WASH. -- Willamette University was in eighth place in the team standings as the first day ended at the Northwest Conference Men's Golf Championship Tournament on Friday, April 22 at the Canyon Lakes Golf Course. Linfield College was leading the tournament with a team score of 301.

The top golfer for the Bearcats on Friday was Jacob Simonson (Fr., Fairview, OR/Reynolds HS), who carded an 84. Cole Clearman (Fr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) scored an 86.

Alex Fitch of Linfield was at the top of the medalist race with a 2-under par 70.

Fitch held a two-stroke lead over Max Bonk of Pacific University and Greg Kirkpatrick from the University of Puget Sound. Bonk and Kirkpatrick each shot a 72. Jesse Salzwedel of Whitworth University was fourth with a 73 and Yutaro Sakamoto of Linfield was fifth at 74.

Linfield's 301 on the first day placed the Wildcats six strokes in front of Whitworth, which finished the round with a score of 307. Puget Sound was third at 311, Whitman held fourth place at 316 and Pacific Lutheran University was fifth at 319. George Fox University and Pacific were tied for sixth at 320 and Willamette was eighth at 355. Lewis & Clark College did not enter a full team.

In addition to Simonson and Clearman, the Bearcats' team score also included the first round results for Brendan Dineen (Jr., Portland, OR/Grant HS) and Kyle Derby (Fr., Oakdale, CA/Oakdale HS). Dineen shot a 92 and Derby shot a 93.

The final round of the NWC Championship Tournament will be held on Saturday, April 23.