By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University men's golfers Austin Davis (Jr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS), Andrew Kibbee (Jr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS), and Alex Weirth (So., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) have been named to the NCAA Division III PING All-West Region Team for 2020-21 by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). A total of 16 golfers from the West Coast and Texas selected for All-West Region honors. Davis and Weirth were selected for the second consecutive season.
Four golfers from the Northwest Conference were named to the All-West Region Team. In addition to Willamette's three selections, Mason Koch was chosen from George Fox University.
Willamette did not compete during the fall season, but the Bearcats participated in four tournaments in the spring before competing at the 2021 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship. The Bearcats tied for 11th in the team standings at the National Tournament. Willamette won the overall 2020-21 Northwest Conference Championship by taking first place at the NWC Spring Classic and earning second place at both the NWC Fall Classic and the NWC Tournament. During the season, WU registered a team score of 300 or lower in seven of 12 rounds, including a low round of 285 on the first day of the NWC Spring Classic.
This year, the GCAA and PING honored a total of 97 golfers on six All-Region teams nationwide. The South Region's 21 selections led the way, followed by 16 golfers in the Central Region, and 15 golfers each in the West Region, Northeast Region, Mid-Atlantic Region, and Great Lakes Region.
NCAA Division III PING All-West Region
Austin Davis (Jr.) was named All-West Region for the second time after receiving the honor in 2019-20. This year, he tied for 40th at the NCAA Championship with a score of 302 (73-72-79-78). He recorded a low round of 1-over 72 on the second day. In 2019, Davis tied for 24th at the NCAA Championship, as he helped Willamette place 13th in the team standings.
This spring, Davis was chosen First Team All-NWC for the second time. He was selected First Team All-NWC in 2018-19 when he was the NWC Men's Golf Freshman of the Year after placing in the top five at all three NWC events.
During his Willamette career, Davis has placed in the top 10 at 15 of 20 tournaments, including 11 top 5 results. He has earned a 73.83 unadjusted career stroke average while contributing a low round of 69 in both 2018-19 and 2019-20. His low round this year was a 1-under par 71 in the first round of the Pacific Invitational on his way to winning the individual tournament title at 143. He placed second at the NWC Tournament and was sixth at the NWC Spring Classic. He recorded a 74.67 unadjusted stroke average this season.
Andrew Kibbee (Jr.) earned All-West Region honors for the first time. He was named First Team All-NWC this spring after receiving Second Team All-NWC recognition in 2018-19. Kibbee was Willamette's top finisher at this year's NCAA Championship, as he tied for 15th place at 296 (80-72-70-74). His low round of the tournament was a 1-under 70 on the third day. He placed 88th at the 2018-19 NCAA Championship.
Kibbee led this year's team with a 73.75 unadjusted stroke average. He attained a career-low round of 67 in the first round at the NWC Spring Classic on his way to claiming medalist honors at 139. He placed second at the NWC Fall Classic and finished in third place at the Pacific Invitational.
Earlier in his career, he won the 2018-19 Pacific Spring Invitational and placed first at the 2019-20 NWC Fall Classic. In addition to this year's 67, he has recorded two rounds of 69 for the Bearcats, with one each in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Kibbee owns a 74.98 career stroke average.
Alex Weirth (So.) was selected All-West Region for the second year in a row. He tied for 31st at this year's NCAA Championship with a score of 300 (75-76-72-77). He was named First Team All-NWC and registered a 75.08 unadjusted stroke average during the season. He placed third at the NWC Fall Classic and was third at the NWC Tournament. He took sixth place at the NWC Spring Classic.
In two seasons at Willamette, Weirth has earned a 73.56 career stroke average. He put together two career-low rounds of 69 in 2019-20. His low round this season was a 2-under 70 in the first round of the NWC Spring Classic.
Weirth won individual titles during 2019-20 at the George Fox University Invitational in the fall and at the Puget Sound Invitational in the spring. As a first-year member of the team, he shot six rounds of 71 or lower. He led Willamette in 2019-20 with a 72.15 unadjusted stroke average.
COMPLETE LIST
PING Men's Golf
NCAA Division III All-Region Teams
2020-21 Season
