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

LACEY, WASH. -- The Willamette University men's golf team is in eighth place after one day of the Northwest Conference Spring Classic being held at The Links at Hawks Prairie. The University of Puget Sound was in first place with a score of 320 when play ended on Saturday, April 2 following the first 18 holes of the 36-hole event. Action is set to resume on Sunday, April 3 with the final 18 holes.

Willamette's top individual golfer in the first round was freshman Jacob Simonson (Fairview, OR/Reynolds HS), who carded an 84 to claim part of an eight-way tie for 12th place.

Puget Sound was followed on team leaderboard by Linfield College in second place just two stroke behind the Loggers at 322. Pacific University was third at 328, with Whitworth University in fourth at 329. Whitman College held fifth place at 344, Pacific Lutheran University was sixth at 349, George Fox University was seventh at 357 and Willamette was eighth at 386. Lewis & Clark did not field a complete team.

Max Bonk from Pacific led the race for medalist honors with an even-par 72. Matt Kitto from Puget Sound was second with a 76, while Riley Conlin of UPS and Yutaro Sakamoto from Linfield were tied for third after each carded a 78. Five golfers were tied for fifth place at 81.

Kyle Derby (Fr., Oakdale, CA/Oakdale HS) of Willamette shot a 92. Brendan Dineen (Jr., Portland, OR/Grant HS) finished the day with a 94.