By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
PLANO, Texas -- Austin Davis (Sr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) and Paxton Jones (Fy., Wellington, NZ/Scots College) each shot a 73 in the first round of the West Region Showdown on Wednesday, March 23 at The Courses at Watters Creek, helping Willamette University grab a 19-stroke lead after 18 holes. The three-team battle between Willamette, the University of Texas at Dallas, and George Fox University is being held on the par 72 Traditions Course. Action in the tournament will conclude on Thursday, March 24 with the second 18 holes.
Willamette earned a team score of 295 to hold first place. UT-Dallas was second with a score of 314. George Fox followed in third at 326.
Davis and Jones finished the round one stroke in front of teammate Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) and two stokes in front of Bearcat golfer Andrew Kibbee (Sr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS). Weirth owned third place with a 74 and Kibbee was in fourth place at 75. Riley Lankford (Sr., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS) of WU was tied for fifth place with a 76.
Tied with Lankford for fifth were Davis Archer of UT-Dallas and Joshua Lackey from George Fox, who each carded a 76. Ryan Kropp and Jared Harvey, both from UTD, were tied for eighth at 77.
Competing as individuals for Willamette were Carlos Cortes Dequidt (Jr., San Diego, CA/Torrey Pines HS), Jack McMullin (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), and Aunders Erickson (Grad., Portland, OR/Westview HS/Ohio Wesleyan Univ.). Cortes Dequidt shot a 79, while McMullin carded an 84, and Erickson registered an 87.