Jones Ties for 2nd, Mitzel and Hinton Tie for 4th, at Puget Sound Invitational
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
BREMERTON, Wash. -- Trent Jones (So., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) advanced from seventh place into a tie for second on the final day of the University of Puget Sound Invitational in men's golf on Sunday, March 5 at Gold Mountain Golf Club. Jones began the day in sole possession of seventh at 1-over-par 72. On Sunday, he added a 1-under-par 70 to finish even for the tournament at 142.
Willamette teammates Peter Mitzel (Sr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) and Sam Hinton (So., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS) tied for fourth at 143. Willamette placed third in the team standings.
The individual tournament champion was Hunter Hechtman from Olympic College at 2-under-par 140, after recording a 70 in each round. Jones was tied for second with Davis Gullikson of Olympic College, led after the first day with a 4-under 67, but shot a 75 in the second round to finish at 142.
Mitzhel and Hinton were joined by Mitchell Baldridge of Pacific Lutheran University in a three-way tie for third at 143. Mitzell carded 69-74, while Hinton shot 74-69, and Baldridge shot 70-73. Kyle Drugge from PLU took seventh place at 144 (69-75).
There were just four rounds below 70 during the tournament and Willamette golfers had two of those rounds: Mitzel's 69 in the first round and Hinton's 69 in the second round. Hinton was the only competitor out of 45 entrants who shot below 70 on Sunday.
The other rounds lower than 70 were Gullikson's 67 on Saturday for low round of the tournament, and Drugge's 69 on Saturday.
Pacific Lutheran won the team title at 584 (284-300). Olympic College finished in second place at 586 (290-296). Willamette took third place at 596, with a 302 in the first round and the lowest team score of the second round at 294.
Grays Harbor Community College, which began the day tied with Willamette for third, slipped into fourth at 606 (302-304). Whitworth University placed sixth at 623 (311-312), Pacific was seventh at 644 (321-332) and Whitman College was eighth at 650 (321-329).
In addition to Jones, Mitzel and Hinton, other golfers competing for the Bearcats were Spencer Hong (Jr., Bellevue, WA/Singapore American School), Clark Wilson (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS), Kenneth Sheldon (So., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) and Collin Fuller (Sr., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS).
Hong shot a 36-hole total of 154 (74-80), while Wilson carded a 155 (78-77). Sheldon finished at 156 (78-78). Fuller shot 159 (80-79).
Willamette's team entry included Jones, Hinton, Wilson, Sheldon and Fuller. The top four scores from those golfers were used to determine Willamette's team score each day. Mitzel and Hong competed as individuals.