By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

BEND, Ore. -- Trent Jones (Fr., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) of Willamette University shot a 5-under-par 67 in the first round of the Willamette Spring Thaw on Saturday, April 16 at Lost Tracks Golf Club to build a four-stroke lead. Logan Davis and Lucas Balala, both from Linfield College, were tied for second place at 1-under-par 71.

Linfield held first place in the team standings at 290, as the Wildcats claimed a slim one-stroke advantage over Willamette. The Bearcats owned second place at 291. Whitworth University was third at 302.

Lewis & Clark College was next in fourth place at 319, with George Fox University one stroke behind the Pioneers in fifth place at 320. Pacific University was sixth at 357. New Hope Christian College did not field a complete team.

Jones, Davis and Balala were followed by Whitworth golfers Austin Billeter and Tyler McQuilkin in a tie for fourth place at even-par 72. Mason Rodby from Linfield was in sixth place at 73. WU athletes Chase Lamothe (Sr., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS) and Peter Mitzel (Jr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) were tied for seventh at 74.

Also contributing to Willamette's team score were Steven Rodriguez (Sr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) and Clark Wilson (Jr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS). Rodriguez shot a 76 to tie Oliver Rudnicki of Whitworth for 13th place. Wilson carded a 77 and was part of a four-way tie for 15th, along with teammate Sam Hinton (Fr., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS), who competed as an individual

Collin Fuller (Jr./So., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS), Stephan Bartz (Sr., San Francisco, CA/San Francisco Univ. HS) and Kenneth Sheldon (Fr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) also participated as   individuals for the Bearcats. Fuller shot 78, Bartz shot 80 and Sheldon recorded an 84.

A total of 45 golfes completed Saturday's round. The tournament will conclude with the second round on Sunday, April 17.