By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
BANKS, Ore. -- Austin Davis (Jr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) topped the individual leaderboard and Willamette University held first place in the team standings after the first day of the Pacific Invitational in men's golf, on Saturday, March 13 at Quail Valley Golf Course. Davis shot four birdies and three bogeys for a 1-under par 71 to lead by two strokes. The Bearcats carded a team score of 300 for a 14-stroke advantage.
Action in the tournament will conclude with 18 holes on Sunday, March 14. Tee times begin at 10 a.m. (PDT).
"It felt fantastic to be competing," Willamette Head Men's Golf Coach Patrick Daugherty said about returning to competition for the first time since March 8, 2020. "I think we all felt the excitement and adrenaline today, and it may have gotten us off to a bumpy start, but they sure did settle in. Everyone played really solid on the back nine (holes 1-9 for Willamette, after the Bearcats started the day at hole 10)."
Davis's 71 was followed by a tie for second place at 1-over-par 73 involving Bryce Hatcher of Linfield University and Mason Koch of George Fox University. Jack McMullin (Fy., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) of Willamette was fourth at 74, and Joshua Lackey from GFU was fifth with a 75.
Andrew Kibbee (Jr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) of Willamette was one of two golfers tied for sixth place at 77. Also shooting a 77 was Tobin Arden from Linfield.
Completing Willamette's team score was Riley Lankford (So./Fy., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS), who was part of a three-way tie for eighth place at 78. Aunders Erickson (Grad., Portland, OR/Westview HS/Ohio Wesleyan Univ.) carded a 78.
Four Bearcats are participating as individuals. They are Alex Weirth (So., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy), Andrew Raymond (Jr./Fy., Napa, CA/Napa HS), Carlos Cortes Dequidt (So., San Diego, CA/Torrey Pines HS), and Reese Hamilton (Fy., Lopez Island, WA/Lopez Middle HS). Weirth shot a 79 on Saturday to tie for 11th after 18 holes, while Raymond earned an 81 and was tied for 17th.
"We're playing in groups of our own team and that's different, but I thought the guys stayed incredibly focused," Daugherty commented. "I'm really happy about the start today and I like the direction we're going."
Willamette's team score of 300 gave the Bearcats a quality lead. Linfield University was second at 314. The Wildcats owned a 1-stroke edge on George Fox University, which was third at 315. Whitman College was fourth at 323, Pacific University was fifth at 327, and Lewis & Clark College held sixth place at 368.