By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Willamette University was in first place with a 3-under par score of 285 after the first round of the 2021 Northwest Conference Spring Classic on Saturday, April 3. Two Bearcats posted individual scores under par, led by Andrew Kibbee (Jr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) in second place with a 5-under-par 67. Alex Weirth (So., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy), who hit a hole-in-one on the par-3 14th hole, was tied for fourth place with a 2-under-par 70.

Willamette held a five-stroke advantage in the team standings. Pacific Lutheran University was second at 290, and Whitworth University was third at 299. The University of Puget Sound was fourth with a score of 301. Linfield University was fifth at 305, George Fox University held sixth place at 307, Whitman College was seventh at 308, Pacific University was eighth at 312, and Lewis & Clark College was ninth at 336.

The individual leader after the first day was Max Ray-Keil of Whitman, who carded a 6-under par 66, just ahead of Kibbee, who shot an eagle 2 on the par-5 15th hole. Reilly Hagarty of Whitworth was third place at a 3-under par 69. Weirth shared fourth place with PLU's Jared Beals.

Simon Luedtke from PLU was sixth at 71. Austin Davis (Jr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) was tied for seventh at an even 72. He was matched by Caden Arnold of PLU and Mason Koch from George Fox.

Also competing for Willamette were Aunders Erickson (Grad., Portland, OR/Westview HS) and Riley Lankford (So./Fy., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS). Erickson shot a 76 for the Bearcats, while Lankford placed registered an 83.

A total of 44 golfers are participating in the tournament.

The NWC Spring Classic is one of three tournaments used to determine the overall NWC champion. The Spring Classic is worth one-fourth of the overall title, the NWC Fall Classic also is worth one-fourth, and the NWC Tournament counts for one-half. The tournament will conclude with the final 18 holes on Sunday, April 4.