By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- At the end of the fall season for the Willamette University men's golf team, the Bearcats are listed at #5 in the nation according to the Golfstat Team Rankings for NCAA Division III released on Friday, Oct. 28. The Bearcats were #7 in the first ranking of the 2022-23 season and were #3 in the rankings released through tournaments held on Oct. 17.

"Golfstat is tricky to understand sometimes," Willamette Head Men's Golf Coach Patrick Daugherty said. "In the past, myself and the team felt like we hadn't got the love from them we thought we should have. It's a big deal to get ranked in the top 20, and an even bigger deal to get ranked in the top 5. It's definitely something to celebrate and acknowledge. I think the guys have earned it and deserve all the recognition they can get."

The Golfstat Team Rankings are based on several statistical categories, including comparative win-loss record, adjusted scoring average, strength of schedule, and tournament victories. Willamette leads NCAA Division III with a 72.03 adjusted scoring average and is second in relative percentage at 94.02%, trailing only Emory University (Ga.) at 95.50%. The Bearcats have won two tournaments and have placed second at two other events.

"I think it is the best ranking a Bearcat golf program has ever received at the end of a season segment (fall 2022)," Daugherty added. "And while these guys certainly deserve it, I think it is also the byproduct of what we've accomplished over the previous nine seasons. We have built a special program here."

Four Willamette golfers have unadjusted scoring averages under 73. They are Jack McMullin (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) at 72.00, Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) at 72.11, Andrew Kibbee (Grad., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) at 72.33, and Paxton Jones (So., Wellington, NZ/Scots College) at 72.56.

Emory owned the #1 ranking with its top-rated relative percentage and a 72.42 adjusted scoring average behind only Willamette. Methodist University (N.C) followed at #2 with a 93.70% relative percentage and a 72.78 adjusted scoring average. The University of Redlands (Calif.) was #3 with a 93.91% rating and a 72.76 adjusted average. Wittenberg University (Ohio) held the #4 ranking on the strength of a 93.00% relative percentage, three tournament wins, and a 72.55 adjusted scoring average. Willamette was next at #5 and Piedmont University (Ga.) was listed at #6. Piedmont had a 93.64% relative rating and a 72.80 adjusted scoring average.

Ranked #7 by its tournament scores and results was Christopher Newport University (Va.) with a 92.75% relative percentage and a 72.84 adjusted average. Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) was #8 with a 93.13% relative percentage and a 73.09 adjusted scoring average. At #9 was Washington & Lee University (Va.) at 91.64% for relative percentage and a 73.20 adjusted average. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) was ranked #10 with a 92.87% relative rating and a 72.68 adjusted scoring average.

Willamette was the only Northwest Conference team included among the Top 25 of the Golfstat rankings. Among the other NWC teams, Whitman College was ranked the highest at #34 including a 73.62 adjusted scoring average. Whitworth University was listed at #38 with a 73.53 adjusted average. Top 25 teams from Region VII included Redlands, Willamette, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, LeTourneau University at #12, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Calif.) at #14, the University of Texas-Dallas at #16, East Texas Baptist University at #17, California Lutheran University at #19, Trinity University (Texas) at #21, and Schreiner University (Texas) at #23.