By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's golf team finished third in the team standings with an 18-hole score of 341, as the Bearcats hosted the Willamette Invitational at the Creekside Country Club on Monday, March 15. Robbie Beard (Sr., Yankton, SD/Yankton HS) of WU placed fourth on the individual leaderboard with a 4-over-par 76.

Linfield College #2 won the team title with an 18-hole score of 315. Corban College took second place four strokes back at 319 and Willamette was third at 341. Lewis & Clark College followed in fourth place at 348, while George Fox University was was fifth at 350 and Linfield #1 was sixth at 354.

Top individual honors went to Joey Duwe of Corban College who shot a 73 and won a scorecard playoff over Tyler Nelson of Linfield #1 to take first place. Nelson also carded a 73. The scorecard tie-breaker was the fifth hole -- rated the toughest on the Creekside course. Duwe shot a four on the par 4 hole, while Nelson carded a five.

Joel Rychard of Linfield #2 claimed third place two strokes off the pace at 75. Beard followed in fourth place with his 76, while Alex Fitch of Linfield #2 was fifth with a 77.

Three competitors tied for sixth place. They were Har Rai Khalsa from Lewis & Clark, Tony Kordosky from Linfield and Jack Mathews of Lewis & Clark. All three finished the round in 78 strokes.

Shane Adversalo (Sr., Honolulu, HI/University Laboratory School) of Willamette was part of a four-way tie for ninth place with a score of 82. Tied with Adversalo were Corban golfers Chris Dudley, Steve Landis and Michael May. Alexander Bennett (Sr. Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) of WU tied for 15th with an 87.

Also competing for the Bearcats were Brendan Dineen (So, Portland, OR/Grant HS), Sam Church (So., San Carlos, CA/Sequoia HS) and Blaze Rogers (So., Lahaina, HI/Lahainaluna HS).

Willamette will not play again until April 10-11 at the Northwest Conference Spring Classic. The tournament will be held at the Moses Lake Golf Club in Moses Lake, Wash.