By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Sam Hinton (Sr., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS) shot a 2-under-par 70 to share first place with one other golfer during the first round of the Willamette Valley Cup on Saturday, March 16 at Creekside Golf Club. Also shooting a 70 to match Hinton atop the leaderboard was Mason Koch from George Fox University. Both held a two-stroke lead over Austin Davis (Fr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) of Willamette, who was third with an even-par 72.

Hinton and Davis contributed to a strong first round for the Bearcats, who led the tournament at the end of the round with a team score of even-par 288. The Bearcats earned a 12-stroke lead over George Fox, which held second place at 300. Linfield College was third at 307, with Lewis & Clark College in fourth place at 314. Pacific University followed in fifth place at 321 and Johnson & Wales University (Colo.) was sixth at 323.

Willamette golfers Kenneth Sheldon (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) and Andrew Kibbee (Fr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) were tied for fourth place at 73. Trent Jones (Sr., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) of WU was part of a five-way tie for sixth place with a 75.

Also tied for sixth were Caleb An and Clayton Rajewich of George Fox, Ben Bohanon of Linfield, and Robert Wang of Lewis & Clark.

Jones of Willamette carded an eagle on the par-5 first hole and was 2-under on the front nine. Sheldon also finished the front nine at 2-under for the Bearcats. Hinton was 2-under on the back nine.

The tournament will conclude with the second round at Creekside on Sunday, March 17. Tee times are scheduled to begin at 11:50 a.m. (PDT).

Big Moment of the Day for Willamette

Trent Jones needed just three shots to complete the par-5
first hole on Saturday, as he earned a birdie for the Bearcats.
Willamette leads the tournament by 12 strokes after the
first round.