Willamette Leads Bushnell Invitational after 1st Round; Weirth is Tied for 4th

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

CRESWELL, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team took the lead on the first day of the Bushnell Fall Invitational on Sunday, Oct. 17 as the Bearcats earned a score of 300 during the opening round. The Bearcats held a one-stroke lead, with Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) in second place at 301.

Four Bearcats ended the round in the top 12 plus ties in the individual standings. Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) was tied for fourth place with a 73. Austin Davis (Sr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) shared a tie for sixth place at 74. Paxton Jones (Fy., Wellington, NZ/Scots College) was in 11th place with a 76. Jack McMullin (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) was involved in a six-way tie for 12th place at 77. Also golfing on WU's top team was Riley Lankford (Sr., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS), who shot a 79.

Following Willamette and Lewis-Clark State in the team standings were Corban University in third place at 310 and College of Idaho in fourth place at 316. Skagit Valley College (Wash.) was fifth with a score of 321, while Bushnell University (Ore.) was sixth at 324, and the Willamette "B" team was seventh at 334. Simpson University (Calif.) did not enter a full team.

The WU "B" group was led by Andrew Cerqui (Fy., Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS) who shot an 80. Carlos Cortes Dequidt (Jr., San Diego, CA/Torrey Pines HS) carded an 84. Andrew Raymond (Sr., Napa, CA/Napa HS) and Reese Hamilton (So., Lopez Island, WA/Lopez Middle HS) each shot an 85.

Tristan Belue from College of Idaho led the individual competition with a 3-under par 69. Jackson Muramoto from Bushnell was second with a 2-under 70 and Kristof Panke of Lewis-Clark State was third at even-par 72. Weirth and tie for fourth with Elias Theodossopoulos from Lewis-Clark, who also shot 73. Davis' 74 for the Bearcats was matched by Caden Stubbs of Bushnell and Jorgen Viken from Lewis-Clark as all the golfers were tied for sixth. Ethan Schloss from College of Idaho and Max McDonough from Corban finished the round tied for ninth at 75.

Action at the Bushnell Invitation will conclude with the second round on Monday, Oct. 18. The round will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. (PDT).