By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Austin Davis (Sr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) from Willamette University has been named the Northwest Conference Men's Golf Student-Athlete of the Week after winning the individual championship at the NWC Fall Classic while leading the Bearcats to the team title. The NWC Fall Classic was held at Quail Valley Golf Course in Banks, Oregon, on Oct. 9-10.
Davis won medalist honors after tying for first place in regulation at 7-under par 137 with rounds of 68 and 69. He advanced into a playoff against Willamette teammate Andrew Kibbee (Sr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS), who also shot 137 (69-68). Davis won the title on the first playoff hole, as he recorded a 4 on the par 5 10th hole, while Kibbee shot a 5.
Willamette won the tournament's team championship with a 36-hole score of 18-under par 558, as the Bearcats carded back-to-back scores of 279. The Bearcats finished strong, with the five-man team earning nine birdies and just one bogey on the last four holes.
The NWC Fall Classic is the first of three tournaments played each year to determine the NWC team champion in men's golf. The NWC Fall Classic and the NWC Spring Classic are each worth one-fourth of the title, while the NWC Tournament is worth one-half of the title. Willamette has the early lead in the point standings with 8 points. Whitworth University is second at 7 points and Whitman College is third with 6 points.
Davis has placed among the leaders at all four tournaments this season. He tied for fourth place out of 122 golfers at the NCAA Division III Preview in Florida with a 54-hole score of 5-under par 211 (70-74-67) to open the season on Sept. 19-21. He took first place at the Linfield Fall Invitational with a score of 1-under par 143 (71-72) and tied for second place at George Fox University Invitational with a score of 139 (70-69), before winning the NWC Fall Classic.
The Bearcats placed 12th out of 24 teams at the prestigious NCAA Division III Preview. Since then, Willamette has won team titles at three consecutive tournaments.
Willamette is set to compete in the Bushnell Invitational on Sunday, Oct. 17 and Monday, Oct. 18. The tournament will be held at the Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell, Oregon.