By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Clark Wilson (Jr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) of Willamette University won medalist honors and led the Bearcats to first place in the team standings, as the Whitworth Invitational in men's golf concluded on Monday, Oct. 5, at the Spokane Country Club. Wilson shot 145 during the 36-hole tournament to win by three strokes, while Willamette registered a team score of 600 (297-303) for an eight-stroke margin of victory.
Wilson shot a 71 in the first round and a 74 in the second round. He was followed by two golfers tied for second place -- Willamette teammate Trent Jones (Fr., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) and Alex Plusquellec from George Fox University. Jones, who led the field on Sunday with a 69, shot 79 on Monday to finish at 148. Plusquellec recorded a 75 on Sunday and a 73 in Monday's round for 148 overall.
Mitchell Baldridge from Pacific Lutheran University tied for fourth place with Andrew Dodge of Whitworth University at 149. Baldridge carded 71-78 and Dodge shot 74-75. Nathan Pellatz of Linfield College, plus Elijah Pittser and Oliver Rudnicki of Whitworth, tied for sixth place at 150. Pellats earned 76-74, Pittser shot 75-75, and Rudnicki shot 73-77. A total of 49 golfers competed in the tournament.
Willamette was followed in the team standings by Whitworth in second place at 608 (304-304). The Pirates were tied for second with Pacific Lutheran entering Monday's round, but shot four strokes better than the Lutes over the final 18 holes. Pacific Lutheran finished third at 612 (304-308).
George Fox was fourth at 618 (311-307), while Linfield was fifth at 630 (313-317). University of Puget Sound took sixth place at 647 (312-335), with Lewis & Clark College in seventh at 666 (329-337), Whitman College in eighth at 684 (347-337), and Pacific University in ninth at 704 (352-352).
The Bearcats' score of 303 was the lowest team score during the second round. Willamette carded the lowest single round of the tournament at 297 on Sunday.
Wilson and Jones were joined by four other Bearcats in the tournament. Chase Lamothe (Sr., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS) tied for 12th place at 153 (77-76). Peter Mitzel (Jr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) finished in a tie for 19th at 157 (80-77). Steven Rodriguez (Sr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) tied for 21st at 158 (82-76). Kenneth Sheldon (Fr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) shot 162 (82-80).
Willamette will compete at the Northwest Conference Fall Classic on Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11. The tournament will be held at The Meadows Course in Sunriver, Oregon.
