By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
GEARHART, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team held first place at the end of the first round of competition at the George Fox Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 6. The Bearcats earned a team score of 5-over-par 293 at Gearhart Golf Club to grab a four-stroke lead over Linfield College, which finished the round at 9-over-par 297. Trent Jones (Sr., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) of Willamette was tied for second on the individual leaderboard with a 1-under-par 71.
Isaac Grebisz from Linfield owned first place with a 2-under-par 70. Jones and Mason Koch form George Fox University were tied for second a 71. Austin Davis (Fr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) of Willamette was alone in fourth place with a 73. Willamette's Andrew Kibbee (Fr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) wa tied for fifth with Zachariah Rodriguez of Pacific Lutheran University at 74.
Four golfers, including Sam Hinton (Sr., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS) of Willamette were tied for seventh place with matching scores of 75. Hinton was joined in the tie by Jackson Hval and Walter Sherry from Linfield and by Robert Wang of Lewis & Clark College. Kenneth Sheldon (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) form Willamette was one of three golfers tied for 11th at 76. A total of 36 golfers completed the first round.
Willamette and Linfield were followed in the team standings by George Fox in third place at 301. Pacific University was fourth at 316, with Lewis & Clark in fifth at 324, and Whitman College in sixth at 346.