By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SUNRIVER, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team, with four Bearcats among the top eight individuals, held first place in the team standings after the first round of the 2015 Northwest Conference Fall Classic on Saturday, Oct. 10 on The Woodlands Course at Sunriver Resort. Willamette had a strong day despite heavy winds that gusted to 30 miles per hour.

The Bearcats attained a team score of 310 for a three-stroke advantage over Whitworth University, which ended the day in second place at 313. Pacific Lutheran University was third at 323 and George Fox University followed in fourth at 328.

Lewis & Clark College and Linfield College were tied for fifth place at 337, while University of Puget Sound was seventh at 344. Pacific University sat in eighth place at 364. Whitman was ninth at 385.

Whitworth golfer Lyle Rudnicki topped the individual leaderboard with a 1-over-par 73. Oliver Rudnicki, also from Whitworth, was second at 74.

Three Willamette teammates -- Peter Mitzel (Jr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS), Steven Rodriguez (Sr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) and Clark Wilson (Jr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) -- all shared part of a three-way tie for third with 77s.

Mitchell Baldridge from Pacific Lutheran and Brandon Sutton of George Fox were tied for sixth place at 78. Chase Lamothe (Sr., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS) held eight place for the Bearcats.

Also competing for Willamette was Trent Jones (Fr., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS). He carded a score of 84 and was tied for 19th.

A total of 45 golfers participated on Saturday. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 10 with the final round of action.

The NWC Fall Classic is one of three tournaments used to determine the overall NWC Champion. Results from the Fall Classic and the NWC Spring Classic each count for one-fourth of the title. The NWC Tournament, which is held during the spring, counts for final half.