By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
TACOMA, Wash. -- Willamette University was tied with Whitworth University for second place in the team standings as the first round of the 2022 Northwest Conference Spring Classic concluded on Saturday, April 9 at Oakbrook Golf Course. Pacific Lutheran University was first in the team standings at 296. The Bearcats and the Pirates were tied at 299.
Paxton Jones (Fy., Wellington, NZ/Scots College) of Willamette was in third place with a 73, as he led three Bearcats in the top six including ties. Andrew Kibbee (Sr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) and Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) were both included in a three-way tie for sixth place at 75. Austin Davis (Sr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) of Willamette was part of a seven-way tie for ninth. Also golfing for the Bearcats was Riley Lankford (Sr., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS), who carded a 79. Lankford was tied for 21st. A total of 45 golfers competed on Saturday.
Caden Arnold from Pacific Lutheran owned first place after 18 holes with a score of 1-under 70. Caleb Belton of Whitworth was second at 1-over 72. Jones was alone in third at 73, while Joshua Clogston of PLU and Parker Krovisky of Whitman College were tied for fourth at 74. Joining Kibbee and Weirth in the tie for sixth at 75 was Oliver Nordberg from Whitworth.
The big tie for ninth place with matching scores of 76 included Davis of Willamette, plus Ahron Abraham of Linfield University, Alex Knox from Whitman, Gabe Cach and Sam Pauly of Whitworth, and Gunner Nielsen and Ryhan Pearson from Pacific Lutheran.
Following Pacific Lutheran (296), Willamette (299), and Whitworth (299) in the team standings were Whitman in fourth at 310, George Fox University in fifth at 316, and Linfield in sixth at 322. The University of Puget Sound held seventh place at 325, while Pacific University was eighth at 326, and Lewis & Clark College was ninth at 334.
The NWC Spring Classic is one of three tournaments used to determine the overall NWC champion. The Spring Classic counts for one-fourth of the overall title, the NWC Fall Classic also counts for one-fourth, and the NWC Tournament is worth one-half. Willamette won the NWC Fall Classic, with Whitworth in second, and Whitman in third.
Action in the NWC Spring Classic will conclude with the second round, set for Sunday, April 10. The NWC Tournament is scheduled for April 23-24 with Willamette hosting at Creekside Golf Club in Salem, Oregon.
