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

SUN RIVER, ORE. -- Willamette University holds first place with a 16-stroke lead in men's golf after the first day of the 2015 Northwest Conference Tournament at Crosswater Golf Course on Saturday, April 25. The Bearcats carded a team score of 299 in the first round. Whitworth University and Pacific Lutheran University are tied for second place at 315.

Following Willamette, Whitworth and Pacific Lutheran was George Fox University in fourth place at 317, with Linfield College in fifth at 330 and University of Puget Sound in sixth at 332. Whitman College was seventh at 338, Pacific University followed in eighth at 343 and Lewis & Clark College was ninth at 384.

Each year, the NWC uses a combination of three tournaments to determine the overall team champion. The NWC Fall Classic is worth one-fourth of the title and the NWC Spring Classic is worth one-fourth. The NWC Tournament counts for the final half of the title.

In order to win the overall championship, Willamette needs to maintain first place, while Whitworth has to finish at least two places behind the Bearcats. Whitworth won the Fall Classic and the Spring Classic for 16 total points, while Willamette and Pacific Lutheran each placed second once and third once for 13 points. Teams in the NWC Tournament will add 16 points for first, 14 points for second, 12 points for third, etc.

On the individual leaderboard, Willamette's Clark Wilson (So., Ocean Park, WA/ Ilwaco HS) is in first place with a 1-under-par 71. Ryan Kukula (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) of Willamette is tied for second place with Justin Lee from Pacific Lutheran at 73.

Steven Rodriguez (Jr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) of Willamette is one of four golfers tied for fourth place at 77. Joining Rodriguez in fourth place are Scott Martin from Whitman, Samson Martinez of Whitworth and Oliver Rudnicki from Whitworth.

Four other golfers, including Peter Mitzel (So., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) from the Bearcats, are tied for eighth place at 78. Also sharing part of eighth place are Calen An of George Fox, Taylor Klopp of Linfield and Kelekoilo Moore of Pacific.

Completing Willamette's five-man team is Jonathan Ross (Sr., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS). Ross carded an 80 in the first round and is part of a seven-way tie for 13th.

Action at the NWC Tournament will conclude on Sunday, April 26 with the final 18 holes. The round will begin with a shotgun start at 10:30 a.m. (PDT). Starting hole assignments for Willamette are Kukula and Wilson on the 10th hole, with Mitzel and Rodriguez on the 11th hole and Ross on the 12th hole.