By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

BANKS, Ore. -- A strong first round for Willamette University on Saturday, Sept. 24 has placed the Bearcats in the lead after 18 holes with a team score of 287 at the Pacific Invitational in men's golf. Sam Hinton (So., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS) of Willamette was tied atop the individual leaderboard with a score of 2-under-par 69, while three other Bearcats were listed in the top 10.

Willamette held a six-stroke lead in the team standings but the next three teams were bunched together. George Fox University was second at 293, while Lewis & Clark College and Linfield College were tied for third place at 294. Pacific University was fifth at 311 and Whitman College was sixth at 325.

Hinton was tied for the lead with Lucas Balala of Linfield, who also carded a 69. Drew Groshong from L&C was third with a 1-under-par 70.

Five golfers were tied for fourth at even-par 71, including Willamette athletes Collin Fuller (Sr./Jr., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS) and Kenneth Sheldon (So., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS). Also tied for fourth were Caleb An from George Fox, Bodhi Parkin from Linfield, and Alex Plusquellec of GFU.

Jacob Bell from Lewis & Clark was ninth at 72. Peter Mitzel (Sr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) of Willamette and Max McGee of Linfield were tied for 10th place at 73.

The Bearcats' Clark Wilson (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) shot a 74 and was tied for 12th place with three other golfers. Trent Jones (So., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) from Willamette was 16th with a 75.

Only five golfers per team may be designated to count toward the team score. Each day the top four scores from those five players are combined for the team total. Fuller is competing as an individual for the Bearcats this weekend.

The second round of the tournament will be held on Sunday (Sept. 25). Tee times for the Bearcats are Fuller at 9:52 a.m. (PDT), Hinton at 10 a.m., Sheldon  at 10:08 a.m, Mitzel at 10:16 a.m., Wilson at 10:24 a.m. and Jones at 10:32 a.m.