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

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Willamette University was in fifth place out of nine teams after the first 18 holes of the Whitworth Fall Invitational were played at Spokane Country Club on Sunday, Oct. 2. The University of Puget Sound and Whitworth University were tied for first place at 296. Willamette was 10 strokes off the pace at 306.

In between the leaders and the Bearcats were Pacific Lutheran University in third place, just one shot behind the co-leaders with a 297 team score, and North Idaho College in fourth place at 299. Trailing Willamette were Linfield College and Whitman College tied for sixth at 309, plus George Fox University in eighth at 339 and Pacific University in ninth at 343.

Dustin Hegge of Pacific Lutheran led the individual standings with a 4-under-par 68. Jesse Salzwedel of Whitworth also finished the day under par with a one-under 71. Christian Boudreau of Whitworth, Alex Fitch from Linfield and Matt Kitto from Puget Sound were tied for third at 72.

Willamette's top golfers after 18 holes were William Ferguson (Fr., Arlington, VA/Hartsbrook HS) and Ryan Kukula (Fr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS). Both were among six golfers tie for seventh place after shooting 74 on Sunday.

Cody Plofker (Fr., Montclair, NJ/Montclair HS) and Taylor Mutch (Fr., La Grande, OR/La Grande HS) also contributed to the Bearcats' team score. Plofker carded a 77 to tied for 19th. Mutch finished the round with an 81. Other WU competitors were Kyle Flowers (So., Vancouver, WA/Skyview HS) at 83 and Jacob Simonson (So., Fairview, OR/Reynolds HS) at 86.

The second and final day of the 36-hole tournament will be held on Monday, Oct. 3.