By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

AUSTIN, Texas -- Sam Hinton (Jr., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS) from Willamette University shot a 75 and was tied for ninth place after completing the first round of the Linda Lowery Invitational on Monday, Feb. 26 at River Place Country Club. The Bearcats were 16th in the team standings with a score of 333. Action in the tournament is scheduled to conclude with the second round on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

Hinton registered one birdie, 13 pars, three bogeys, and one double-bogey. He earned his birdie on the par 5, 497-yard 13th hole. Hinton was 4-over-par for the day.

"Sam played remarkable golf," Willamette Head Coach Patrick Daugherty said. "He was very resilient and positive."

Only Tyler Uhlig from the University of Texas at Tyler broke par, as he grabbed the early lead with a 4-under 67. He held a four-stroke lead over Logan Young of Concordia University (Texas), who was in second place with a 1-over-par 72. Three golfers -- Ryan McGinley of Concordia, Sutherland Stith from Southwestern University (Texas), and Daniel Kay of LeTourneau University (Texas) finished the round tied for third place at 73.

An additional three golfers were tied for sixth at 74. They were Emilio Montalvo from University of Dallas, Wyatt Koricanek from Schreiner University (Texas), and Clayton King from Concordia. Hinton was one of nine athletes tied for ninth place at 75. A total of 89 athletes finished the round.

Hinton was joined on Willamette's team by Trent Jones (Jr., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS), Kenneth Sheldon (Jr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS), Ben Graham (Fr., Renton, WA/Liberty HS) and Spencer Hong (Sr., Bellevue, WA/Singapore American School). Jones shot an 85, while Sheldon carded an 86, Graham shot an 87, and Hong completed the round at 93.

"We have to do better playing through adversity," Daugherty said. "Even so, they never quit, and I'm proud that they kept at it through the last putt."

Concordia, which is hosting the tournament, was at the top of the team standings with a score of 294 when the first round ended. UT-Tyler was second at 300 and Southwestern was third at 302. Concordia University's "B" team was tied for fourth at 307. Schreiner also carded a team score of 307.

Willamette and Linfield College were the only teams representing the Northwest Conference. Augustana College (Ill.), Birmingham Southern College (Ala.), and Webster University (Mo.) also competed in the tournament, along with 13 teams from Texas. Linfield was 18th in the team standings at 348.