Bearcats are in Seventh after First Day of Lutes Invitational

Plofker is Tied for 10th in Individual Standings

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

DuPONT, WASH. -- The Willamette University men's golf team was in seventh place following the first day of the Lutes Invitational on Saturday, March 3 at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash. Linfield College held the top position in the team standings with a score of 300. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, March 4.

Following Linfield on the team leaderboard were Whitworth University in second place at 304 and North Idaho College in third place at 310. Pacific Lutheran University was fourth at 312, with the University of Puget Sound in fifth with a score of 322 and George Fox University in sixth at 327. Willamette was seventh at 329, just two strokes behind GFU and seven strokes behind UPS. Pacific University was eighth with a score of 347.

Alex Fitch and Taylor Klopp, both from Linfield, were tied for the individual lead, each with a par 72. Whitworth golfers Stephen Plopper and Jesse Salzwedel were tied for third place at 73, while Tim Livermore from Pacific Lutheran was fifth with a 75.

Willamette's top golfer in the first round was Cody Plofker (Fr., Montclair, NJ/Montclair HS), who carded a 78 to share part of a three-way tie for 10th place. Jacob Simonson (So., Fairview, OR/Reynolds HS) shot an 82 and Jonathan Ross (Fr., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS) earned an 84. Kyle Derby (So., Oakdale, CA/Oakdale HS) and Ryan Kukula (Fr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) each finished the 18 holes with an 85.

FIRST DAY RESULTS
Willamette vs. Corban Dual
At Oak Knoll Golf Course
Salem, Ore.
Saturday, March 3

Cody Plofker shot a 78 for the Bearcats and was tied for 10th place after the first round.