By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team moved up from fourth place at the end of the first round into second place in the final standings, as the 2022 Northwest Conference Fall Classic concluded on Sunday, Oct. 9 at Creekside Golf Club. Willamette lowered its team score by seven strokes from Saturday's score of 296, with the Bearcats shooting 1-over par 289 over the last 18 holes. It was the lowest team score of the second round. In addition, Paxton Jones (So., Wellington, NZ/Scots College) earned sixth place in the individual standings, while Andrew Kibbee (Grad., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) and Brock Olson (Fy., Kirkland, WA/Lake Washington HS) tied for ninth place.

Whitworth University grabbed the team title with a score of 577 after shooting 287 in the first round and 290 in the second round. The Pirates finished at 1-over par for the 36 holes and won the tournament by eight strokes. Willamette was second at 585 and Whitman College was third at 589 (294-295). Linfield University placed fourth at 595 (290-305), Pacific Lutheran University earned fifth place at 613 (304-309), Pacific University was sixth at 634 (322-312), and the University of Puget Sound was seventh at 638 (311-327). George Fox University took eight place at 645 (311-334), while Lewis & Clark College was ninth at 668 (342-326).

Alexander Knox of Whitman won the individual championship on the third playoff hole against Jacob Rawley from Whitworth. Knox and Rawley both shot 141 for the tournament, as Knox carded a tournament-low 68 in the first round and a 73 in the second round, with Rawley shooting 70 and 71. The playoff alternated between the 1st hole and the 9th hole. As the playoff began, both golfers registered a birdie 4 on the par 5 1st hole. Then Knox and Rawley each shot a par 4 on the 9th hole. When action returned to the 1st hole, Knox recorded a birdie 4 while Rawley shot a par 5.

Josh Cross of Pacific Lutheran and Sam Pauly from Whitworth tied for third place at 143. Cross shot 71-72 and Pauly carded 72-71. Oliver Nordberg of Whitworth placed fifth at 144 on rounds of 69 and 75. Jones of Willamette followed in sixth place at 145 with a 74 in the first round and a 1-under par 71 in the second round.

Parker Krovisky from Whitman tied for seventh place with Jacob Smisson of Linfield. Both golfers shot 146, as Krovisky attained back-to-back scores of 73 and Smisson registered scores of 70 and 76. Willamette's Kibbee and Olson shared ninth place at 147. Kibbee carded a 2-under par 70 and a 77, while Olson shot 74 and 73.

A three-way tie for 10th place included Brendan Borck of George Fox, Trevor Price from Linfield, and Max Ray-Keil of Whitman. All three shot 148 for the tournament, with Borck earning a 3-under par 69 and a 79, with Price shooting 71 and 77, and Ray-Keil producing two rounds of 74.

Willamette's team also included Jack McMullin (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) and Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy). McMullin shot 78 in the first round and 74 in the second round for an overall score of 152. Weirth also shot 152, with an 81 in the first round and a 1-under par 71 in the second round. Both golfers tied with two other competitors for 17th place. A total of 45 golfers participated in the men's NWC Fall Classic.

Each year, the NWC men's golf championship includes 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.  

Whitworth leads the current team standings with 8 points and is followed by Willamette at 7 points, Whitman at 6 points, Linfield at 5 points, Pacific Lutheran with 4 points, Pacific with 3 points, Puget Sound with 2 points, and George Fox with 1 point. Willamette has won the last three overall NWC Championships (2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22; no champion was determined in 2019-20 due to COVID-19).

The Bearcats are scheduled to compete at the Whitman Confluence Classic on Saturday, Oct. 22 and Sunday, Oct. 23 in Walla Walla, Washington. The tournament will be played at Wine Valley Golf Club/Veterans Memorial Golf Course.