SALEM, Ore. – The Willamette University men's golf team was ranked #14 in the Bushnell/Golfweek NCAA Division III Coaches Poll after turning in some strong performances during the 2021-22 fall season. The Bearcats finished 12th out of 24 teams at the prestigious NCAA Division III Preview on Sept. 21 at Mission Inn Resort at Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida to open the fall campaign.

Previously ranked 22nd in the poll released in early October, the Bearcats captured team titles in fall tournaments at Linfield University, George Fox University, and the Northwest Conference Fall Classic. The NWC Fall Classic was held at the Quail Valley Golf Course in Banks, Oregon. Willamette added a second place showing at the Bushnell University Fall Invitational to wrap up the semester.

Emory University (Ga.) earned the top ranking with Methodist University (N.C.) and Huntingdon College (Ala.) claiming the second and third spots, respectively in the top 25. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) holds the #4 spot with Illinois Wesleyan University coming in at #5. Northwest Conference members Whitworth University and Whitman College were ranked T-20 and 25th, respectively as well.

Austin Davis (Sr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS), Andrew Kibbee (Sr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS), and Jack McMullin (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) placed first, second, and third, respectively, in the individual standings at the Linfield Fall Invitational as the tournament concluded at Michelbook Country Club on Sunday, Sept. 26.

Davis tied Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) for second place at George Fox and edged out Kibbee on a playoff for the individual title at the NWC Fall Classic.

Last year, the Bearcats captured the 2020-21 Northwest Conference Championship and received a bid to the NCAA Division III Championship, where they tied for 11th in the team standings. Kibbee finished in the top 20 as he tied for 15th.