Hinton Shoots 2-under 70 to Lead Willamette Spring Thaw after 18 Holes

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

WOODBURN, Ore. -- Sam Hinton (So., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS) of Willamette University carded a 2-under-par 70 in the first round of the Willamette Spring Thaw for a two-stroke lead at the Oregon Golf Association (OGA) Golf Course on Friday, April 14. Hinton's efforts led the Bearcats to a score of 295 and a seven-stroke advantage in the team standings.

The Willamette Spring Thaw will conclude on Saturday, April 15 with the second round of action. Tee times in the men's tournament will begin at 11:30 a.m. (PDT). A total of 40 golfers are participating.

Hinton was followed on the leaderboard by Jamie Carroll of Whitworth University and Colin Rajczak from University of Puget Sound, each with an even-par 72 in the first round.

Kenneth Sheldon (So., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) of Willamette was fourth at 73. Fellow Bearcat and former Ilwaco High School teammate Clark Wilson (Sr., Ocean Park, WA) was fifth with a 74.

A two-way tie for sixth included Bodhi Parkin from Linfield College and Sam Stiles of Whitworth. Parkin and Stiles shot 75. Elijah Pittser of Whitworth held eighth place at 76. Six golfers were tied for ninth place at 77.

Logan Davis of Linfield hit a hole-in-one on the 17th hole. He used a 9-iron from 158 yards. Davis was one of the six athletes tied for ninth at the end of the round.

In addition to Hinton, Sheldon and Wilson, other golfers for Willamette were Peter Mitzel (Sr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS), Trent Jones (So., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS), Collin Fuller (Sr., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS) and Dylan King (So., Cottonwood, CA/West Valley HS).

Mitzel carded a78 and was tied for 15th place. Jones shot 79, and Fuller finished the day at 82. King shot 92. Fuller and King are competing as individuals.

Willamette's 295 placed the Bearcats seven strokes in front of Whitworth. The Pirates were in second place at 302. Linfield was third with a score of 308, while George Fox was fourth at 313. Puget Sound was in fifth place at 322 and Pacific was sixth at 338. New Hope Christian College (Ore.) did not field a complete team.