By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- Kenneth Sheldon (So., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) of Willamette University shot a 36-hole score of 2-over-par 146 on Monday, Sept. 12 to hold third place out of 71 competitors on the first day of the Oregon Tech Invitational in men's golf. The tournament, which is being held at the Running Y Ranch, will conclude with the final 18 holes on Tuesday.

Sheldon shot an even-par 72 in the first round and followed up with a 74 in the second round. Only three golfers broke par in at least one round, and Sheldon was one of only three additional athletes with a round of 72.

Johnnie Greco from William Jessup University (Calif.) topped the leaderboard with a two-round score of 6-under-par 138. Greco carded a 70 in the first round and lowered his score to a 68 in the second round. Kyle Wolf of Oregon Institute of Technology shot a total of 142 by earning a 71 in each round.

Sheldon was four strokes behind Wolf. Two golfers from Oregon Tech, Montana Frame and Houston Knox were tied for fourth place at 147. Frame shot 74-73 and Knox registered 75-72.

Willamette ended the first day tied for fifth place in the team standings. William Jessup was first at 589 (295-294), while Oregon Tech owned second place at 604 (307-297). Sierra Nevada was third with a score of 609 (304-305). Simpson University (Calif.) followed in fourth place at 610 (311-299).

The Bearcats matched crosstown rival Corban University for fifth place at 614. Willamette carded 315-299, while Corban recorded 317-297. Corban's "B" team was seventh at 626 with identical rounds of 313. College of Idaho and Northwest Christian University (Ore.) were tied for eighth at 635 after C of I shot 316-319 and NCU shot 321-314. Walla Walla was 10th at 677 (342-335) and California Maritime Academy was 11th at 750 (387-363).

Willamette's team score included the top four results in each round from a list of five golfers:  Peter Mitzel (Sr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS), Trent Jones (So., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS), Sam Hinton (So., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS), Collin Fuller (Sr./Jr., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS), and Clark Wilson (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS).

Mitzel shot a 78 in the first round and then improved to a 73 over the second 18 holes. He finished the day at 151 and was part of a three-way tied for 11th place. Jones carded 78-74 for a 36-hole total of 152, as he tied six golfers for 14th place.

Hinton earned scores of 79 and 76 for a score of 155. Fuller shot 80-76 for 156 and Wilson recorded 80-78 for 158.

Sheldon and two other Bearcats, Spencer Hong (Jr., Bellevue, WA/Singapore American School) and Dylan King (So., Cottonwood, CA/West Valley HS) were competing as individuals. Hong carded scores of 79 and 77 for a total of 156.