Willamette Takes 3rd Place at NWC Spring Classic; Jones and Davis Tie for 4th

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Willamette University earned third place in the final team standings at the Northwest Conference Spring Classic, as the tournament concluded on Sunday, April 14 at the Olympia Country & Golf Club. The Bearcats shot 305 in the first round on Saturday, and added a score of 299 on Sunday for a total of 604.

Whitworth University won the Spring Classic team title at 596. The Pirates carded team scores of 304 and 292. Whitworth's 292 on Sunday was the low round of the event. Pacific Lutheran University, which led at 300 after the first day, shot a 303 in the second round, and took second place overall at 603, just one stroke in front of the Bearcats.

George Fox University placed fourth at 618 (314-304). University of Puget Sound was fifth at 620 (321-299), with Linfield College in sixth at 622 (315-307). Lewis & Clark College took seventh place at 664 (331-33) and Pacific University was eighth at 676 (344-332). Whitman did not field a complete team in the second round.

The top finishers for Willamette in the individual standings were Trent Jones (Sr., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) and Austin Davis (Fr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS). Jones and Davis both tied for fourth place with Austin Darnell of Pacific Lutheran at 150. Jones shot 76 and 74, while Davis carded a 75 in each round, and Darnell posted scores of 72 and 78.

Also for the Bearcats, Kenneth Sheldon (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) tied for 12th at 153 (81-72), and Sam Hinton (Sr., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS) tied for 14th at 154 (76-78). Andrew Kibbee (Fr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) tied for 23rd at 157 (78-79).

Medalist recognition went to Mason Koch of George Fox, who shot 75 and 72 for a 36-hole score of 7-over-par 147. Reilly Hegarty of Whitworth took second at 148 (74-74) and Derrick Phelps of Whitworth was third at 149 (77-72). The three-way tie for fourth between Jones and Davis of Willamette and Darnell of PLU followed at 150. Jared Beals of PLU and Mac Turner of Puget Sound tied for seventh place at 151. Beals shot 74-77 and Turner carded 78-73.

Ninth place included Tom Hoyne of Whitman, Gunner Nielson of Pacific Lutheran and Preston Roth of Whitworth, in a three-way tie at 152. Hoyne's rounds were 74 and 78, while Garner earned 78 and 74, and Roth shot a 72 and an 80.

The NWC Spring Classic is one of three tournaments that determines the overall NWC champion. The NWC Fall Classic is worth one-fourth of the overall title and the NWC Spring Classic also is worth one-fourth. The NWC Tournament on April 27-28 at Wine Valley Golf Club, in Walla Walla, Washington, will count for one-half of the title.

With two of the three tournaments completed, Whitworth leads the NWC standings at 16 points. Willamette and Pacific Lutheran are tied for second with 13 points. Points will be earned at the NWC Tournament on a 16-14-12-etc. basis.

Big Moment of the Day for Willamette

Kenneth Sheldon shot a 2-over par 72 in the second round
to move into a tie for 12th. Sheldon's 72 matched five other
competitors for low round of the tournament.