By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Assistant

BANKS, Ore. -- Riley Lankford (Grad., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS) and Andrew Cerqui (So., Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS) tied for 13th place and the Willamette University men's golf "B" team held seventh place in the team standings after the first day of the Pacific Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 17 at Quail Valley Golf Course. Lankford shot an eagle and three birdies while Cerqui hit three birdies of his own en route to a 4-over par 76.

Also competing for the Bearcats' "B" group were Oliver Smith (Fy., San Jose, CA/Pioneer HS), who shot an 81, and Carlos Cortes Dequidt (Sr., San Diego, CA/Torrey Pines HS), who carded an 84. Connor Murphy (Fy., Palm Desert, CA/Xavier College Prep) shot an 88, and A.J. Durzy (Fy., San Jose, CA/Archbishop Mitty HS) shot a 94.

Johnathan Riley from Pacific University led the individual competition with a 2-under par 70. George Fox University's Brenden Borck and Mason Rodewald from Pacific both shot a 1-under 71 to tie for second. Alex Knox from Whitman College had his even-par 72 matched by teammate Jack Garnsey and Joshua Cross from Pacific Lutheran University, as all three golfers tied for fourth. PLU's Joshua Clogston and Carson Cirillo from the University of Puget Sound tied for seventh at 73, while Linfield College's Riley Lynch and Ethan Singh from Whitman finished the round tied for ninth at 74.

Whitman's team score of 298 gave the Blues a 1-stroke edge over Pacific at 299. The Boxers, in turn, owned a 1-stroke advantage over third-place PLU at 300. Linfield and George Fox tied for fourth at 306, Puget Sound held sixth at 310, and the Willamette "B" team was seventh at 317. Lewis & Clark College finished the day in eighth place at 320.

Action in the tournament will conclude with 18 holes on Sunday, Sept. 18.