By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team will begin the 2021 fall season at the NCAA Division III Preview from Sunday, Sept. 19 through Tuesday, Sept. 21. The tournament will be held a the Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

Willamette returns to action after tying for 11th place at the 2021 NCAA Division III Championship in Wheeling, West Virginia. The Bearcats shot 1203 during the 72-hole event. Andrew Kibbee (Sr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) tied for 15th place in the individual standings at 296 (80-72-70-74), while Alex Weirth (Jr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) tied for 31st at 300 (75-76-72-77). Austin Davis (Sr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) finished in a tie for 40th at 302 (73-72-79-78).

Kibbee was chosen for NCAA Division III PING Third Team All-America honors in 2020-21. In addition, Kibbee, Weirth, and Davis earned All-West Region recognition. Davis and Weirth received the award for the second year in a row after also being named All-West Region in 2019-20. Weirth was named First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII in 2020-21.

Also returning for the Bearcats this season are Carlos Cortes Dequidt (Jr., San Diego, CA/Torrey Pines HS), Riley Lankford (Sr., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS), Jack McMullin (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), and Andrew Raymond (Sr., Napa, CA/Napa HS).

Willamette received votes in this week's Bushnell/Golfweek NCAA Division III Coaches Poll but did not receive a spot in the Top 25. The Bearcats were ranked #24 in the Preseason Poll.

Head Coach Patrick Daugherty is in his ninth year leading the Bearcats. He also served as the assistant coach at Willamette for three years before being named head coach. In addition to guiding the team to the 2021 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, Daugherty coached the Bearcats to a berth in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, where the WU finished in 13th place.