By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Trent Jones (Fr., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) of Willamette University shot a 3-under-par 69 to help the Bearcats lead the Whitworth Invitational by seven strokes after the first round on Sunday, Oct. 4 at the Spokane Country Club.

The Bearcats attained a team score of 297 over the first 18 holes. Pacific Lutheran and Whitworth University were tied for second place at 304. George Fox University held fourth at 311, just in front of University of Puget Sound in fifth at 312 and Linfield College in sixth at 313. Lewis & Clark College was seventh at 329, Whitman College was eighth at 347 and Pacific University was ninth at 352.

Action at the Whitworth Invitational will conclude on Monday, Oct. 5 with the final 18 holes.

Jones topped the field by two strokes over Willamette teammate Clark Wilson (So., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) and Mitchell Baldridge of Pacific Lutheran University, both at 71.

Four golfers -- Isaac Grebisz of Linfield, Andrew Grove of George Fox, and Whitworth athletes Oliver Rudnicki and Andrew Dodge -- were tied for fourth place at 73. A total of 49 golfers competed in Saturday's first round.

Jones and Wilson were joined by four other Bearcats.

Chase Lamothe (Sr., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS) and Peter Mitzel (Jr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) also contributed to the team score. Lamothe shot a 77 and was tied for 18th place. Mitzel earned an 80 and was tied for 24th. Steven Rodriguez (Sr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) and Kenneth Sheldon (Fr., Ocean Park, Washington/Ilwaco HS) each carded an 82.