By Charlie McGuire, Athletics Communications Assistant

SALEM, Ore. – Willamette University jumped out to a five-stroke lead on day one of the 2022 Northwest Conference Men's Golf Tournament. The Bearcats are the hosts of the two-day event being played at the Creekside Golf Club in Salem.

Willamette combined to finish four over par with a team score of 292 on Saturday. Whitworth University is currently second with 297 while George Fox holds a one-stroke lead over Pacific Lutheran, 304-305. Linfield is fifth with 310 and Puget Sound is two strokes ahead of Whitman, 320-322, in the number six spot. Lewis and Clark and Pacific round out the scoring at 326 and 328, respectively.

George Fox's Dante Heitschmidt is the individual leader after the opening round, shooting a two-under par 70. Whitworth's Caleb Belton and Willamette's Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) are tied for second with one-under rounds of 71.

Willamette's Austin Davis (Sr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) and Paxton Jones (Fy., Wellington, New Zealand/Scots College) are in a three-way tie for fourth with Puget Sound's Reynn Hoshide, all carding even par scores of 72. Andrew Kibbee (Sr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) and Riley Lankford (Sr., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS) turned in strong rounds as well, carding 77 and 78, respectively.

The NWC men's golf championship features 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 leads the conference standings entering this weekend. The Bearcats won the NWC Fall Classic and placed second at the NWC Spring Classic. Whitworth University holds second place overall after finishing second at the NWC Fall Classic and taking third at the NWC Spring Classic. Pacific Lutheran University is in third place in the overall standings with fifth place at the Fall Classic and first place at the Spring Classic.

If Willamette wins the NWC Tournament, the Bearcats will claim the overall NWC Championship. A win by Whitworth with Willamette in second place would force a playoff between the Bearcats and the Pirates. Other scenarios are possible, but Willamette and Whitworth are the only teams that can win the title without help from other squads.

Play concludes on Sunday at Creekside. Tee times will be determined by Saturday's results.