By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University shot a 36-hole score of 601 to win the team title at the Willamette Cup for the third consecutive season. The Bearcats took first place by 22 strokes.
The Bearcats carded a team score of 297 in the first round and added a 304 in the second round. Corban University and Linfield College tied for second place at 623. Corban shot 313-310, while Linfield recorded 312-311. George Fox University was fourth at 627 (315-312). Leiws & Clark College placed fifth at 647 (328-319), while the Linfield "B" team was sixth at 665 (323-342) and Pacific University was seventh at 715 (363-352).
This year's Willamette Cup was co-hosted by Linfield and George Fox. Saturday's round was played at Michelbook Country Club in McMinnville, Oregon. Sunday's round was played at Chehalem Glenn Golf Course in Newberg, Oregon. Golfers battled challenging conditions each day with wet grounds on Saturday, followed by rain and wind during the second round.
Chase Lamothe (Sr., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS) of Willamette won the individual title with a 36-hole score of 2-under-par 142. He shot a 2-under 70 in the first round at Michelbook, and then shot an even-par 72 on Sunday at Chehalem Glenn.
Lamothe won by six strokes over Alex Plusquellec of George Fox and Aaron Seabrook of Corban, who tied for second place at 148. Plusquellec carded 74-74, while Seabrook shot 72-76.
Trent Jones (Fr., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) of Willamette and Drew Groshong from L&C tied for fourth place at 149. Jones carded a 72 in the first round to match Seabrook for second place after 18 holes. Jones added a 77 in the second round. Groshong shot 73-76.
Three golfers, including Bearcat athletes Collin Fuller (Jr./So., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS) and Clark Wilson (Jr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS), tied for sixth overall at 158. Fuller recorded rounds of 75 and 77, while Wilson shot 78-74. Logan Davis of Linfield earned scores of 75 and 77.
Steven Rodriguez (Sr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) of WU tied for 12th at 158, while Peter Mitzel (Jr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) placed 16th at 160. Rodriguez shot 77-81 and Mitzel carded 76-84.
Also competing from Willamette were Kenneth Sheldon (Fr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS), Sam Hinton (Fr., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS) and Shane Fritter (Fr., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS). Sheldon finished at 163 (81-82), Hinton scored 165 (80-85) and Fritter shot 169 (85-84).
Willamette's team entry included Lamothe, Jones, Wilson, Rodriguez and Hinton. Fuler, Mitzel, Sheldon and Fritter competed as individuals.
Up next for Willamette is the UPS Invitational on Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6 at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Washington.
