By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University will host the 2022 Northwest Conference Fall Classic in men's golf on Saturday, Oct. 8 and Sunday, Oct. 9 at Creekside Golf Club in Salem. Action get underway at 8:30 a.m. (PDT) on Saturday.

Each year, 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 are each worth one-fourth of the title, while the NWC Tournament is worth one-half of the title. The NWC Spring Classic and the NWC Tournament will be held during the spring semester.

On Saturday, all nine NWC men's teams will start on the 10th hole with tee times from 8:30 a.m. (PDT) through 10:50 a.m. Each player will complete the 10th hole through the 16th hole. The par-3 17th hole is not playable due to nearby construction. After finishing the 16th hole, golfers will move to the 18th hole, and then play the 1st hole through the 9th hole. All golfers will later play the par-3 11th hole for a second time with a different tee box and a different cup location to complete the round.

Willamette enters the tournament ranked #18 in NCAA Division III. Golfing for the Bearcats this weekend will be Andrew Kibbee (Grad., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS), Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy), Jack McMullin (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), Paxton Jones (So., Wellington, NZ/Scots College), and Brock Olson (Fy., Kirkland, WA/Lake Washington HS). Kibbee's tee time is 8:30 a.m. (PDT) on Saturday, with Weirth following at 8:40 a.m., McMullin at 8:50 a.m., Jones at 9 a.m., and Olson at 9:10 a.m. The Bearcats will be playing in groups with Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound.

The second group of teams, including Whitworth University, Whitman College, and Lewis & Clark College, will have tee times from 9:20 a.m. (PDT) through 10 a.m. The third group of teams includes George Fox University, Linfield University, and Pacific University. Tee times for the third group will range from 10:10 a.m. until 10:50 a.m.

Action at the NWC Fall Classic is scheduled to conclude with the second round, which is set for Sunday.