By Sara Elcano, Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's golf team finished in third place in the Willamette Valley Championship at Illahe Hills Country Club on Friday, Oct. 1. The Linfield College men's team captured first place and Pacific University finished second.

Linfield finished with a score of 310 to capture first place in the team standings. The Pacific University Boxers finished second with a score of 318, just eight strokes off of first place. Willamette came away with a third place finish and a team score of 344.

Alex Fitch and A.J. Taylor, both of Linfield, each finished with a score of 74. Taylor was awarded first place by virtue of a scorecard tie-breaker. Max Bonk of Pacific placed third with a 75 and Evans Parrish, also from Pacific, finished fourth with a 78. Yutaro Sakamoto of Linfield took fifth with a score of 80.

Paul Shoji (Fr.) was the top finisher for Willamette. Shoji shot an 82 to tie for sixth place. Connor Boyd (Fr.) and Dylan Johnson (Fr.) each carded rounds of 86 for Willamette to end the tournament tied for 12th place.