By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team is ready to battle for the Northwest Conference Championship during the NWC Tournament this weekend. The 36-hole event, worth one-half of the overall NWC Championship, will be held at the Kalispel Golf and Country Club in Spokane, Washington, on Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18.

The men's golf championship in the NWC includes three tournaments, the NWC Fall Classic, the NWC Spring Classic, and the NWC Tournament. The Fall Classic and the Spring Classic have already been completed and were each worth one-fourth of the title.

Willamette is tied with Pacific Lutheran University atop the conference standings. PLU won the NWC Fall Classic with Willamette in second place, and the Bearcats won the NWC Spring Classic with the Lutes following in second. If Willamette or Pacific Lutheran wins the NWC Tournament, that team will claim the NWC Championship. Other scenarios are possible, but Willamette and Pacific Lutheran are the only teams that can win the title without help from other squads.

Andrew Kibbee (Jr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) of Willamette won the individual title at the NWC Spring Classic on April 3-4 at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington. Kibbee finished at 5-under par 139 with a 67 in the first round and a 72 in the second round.

Also at the NWC Spring Classic, WU golfers Austin Davis (Jr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) and Alex Weirth (So., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) tied for sixth place at 146. Davis shot 72-74 and Weirth shot 70-76. Aunders Erickson (Grad., Portland, OR/Westview HS/Ohio Wesleyan Univ.) from Willamette tied for 11th place by carding a 148 (76-72). Riley Lankford (So./Fy., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS) shot 158 (83-75) for the Bearcats.

The same five golfers will compete for Willamette at the NWC Tournament. The Bearcats are scheduled to begin Saturday's first round at 10:27 a.m. (PDT).