By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University has advanced 10 positions on its way up to #8 in the latest Bushnell/Golfweek NCAA Division III Men's Golf Coaches Poll as released by the Golf Coaches Association of America on Friday, Oct. 28. The Bearcats took first place at the Whitman Confluence Classic in Walla Walla, Washington, on Sunday, Oct. 23 and Monday, Oct. 24. The tournament was held at Veterans Memorial Golf Course and at Wine Valley Golf Club. Willamette shot 571 (283-288) to win by 10 strokes over Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Calif.) at 580 (275-305), as the Bearcats overcame an eight-stroke deficit on the first day.
The rally helped Willamette move up in this week's poll. Emory University (Ga.) jumped over Methodist University (N.C). to grab the #1 ranking this week after holding the #2 spot in the poll. Emory received all 18 first place votes and 450 points. Methodist exchanged positions with Emory, falling to #2 with 429 points. Wittenberg University (Ohio) advanced 10 spots to #3 this week with 378 points. Piedmont College (Ga.) took the #4 ranking, up two positions, while Christopher Newport University (Va.) remained at #5.
Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) fell two spots to #6. The University of Redlands (Calif.) jumped from #19 all the way to #7 with 330 points. Willamette followed at #8 with 318 points. Washington & Lee University (Va.) was #9 with 300 points and Illinois Wesleyan University held the #10 ranking with 288 points.
Redlands and Willamette were joined in the poll by other Region VIII team in Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at #11, LeTourneau University (Texas) at #14, Pomona-Pitzer at #15, the University of Texas-Dallas at #16, California Lutheran at #19, Trinity University (Texas) at #21, and East Texas Baptist University at #25. Also receiving votes were Occidental College (Calif.), the University of Dallas (Texas), Chapman University (Calif.), and Whitman College.
Willamette has concluded its fall season. The Bearcats will return to action during the 2023 spring semester. The Bearcats have qualified for the past three NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships (2019, 2021, 2022). No NCAA Championship was held in 2020.
