By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

POST FALLS, Idaho -- Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) of Willamette University shot a career-low 66 to the lead the charge, as the Bearcats lowered their first round score by 31 strokes during the second round of the 2023 Northwest Conference Spring Classic in men's golf at The Links Golf Club on Sunday, April 2. The Bearcats moved up from fourth place into third. Weirth's 6-under par, the lowest round recorded by any golfer during the 36-hole tournament, raised him into third place in the individual standings.

Weirth achieved an overall score of even-par 144. He shot a 78 in the first round before shooting his 66 in the second round. Tom Hoyne of Whitman College, the only golfer below par in the first round with a 69, shot a 71 in the second round to win the individual title at 140. Hoyne finished two strokes in front of Brenden Borck of George Fox University, who shot 142 (75-67) to take second place.

A three-way tie for fourth place at 145 featured Oliver Nordberg (74-71) and Jacob Rawley (78-67) from Whitworth University as well as Trevor Price (73-72) of Linfield University. Two golfers, Alex Knox of Whitman and Sam Pauly of Whitworth, tied for seventh place at 146. Knox carded 76-70 and Pauly shot 71-71. Drew Spritzer from the University of Puget Sound, took ninth place at 147 with rounds of 79 and 68.

Brock Olson (Fy., Kirkland, WA/Lake Washington HS) of Willamette was one of three athletes who tied for 10th place at 148. Olson shot 78-70 and was tied with Joshua Clogston of Pacific Lutheran University and Riley Lynch from Linfield. Clogston's scores were 75-73 and Lynch shot 76-72.

In the team standings, Whitman took first place at 586 with scores of 298 in the first round and 288 in the second round. Whitworth was second at 588 (306-282) and Willamette was third at 595 (313-282). Linfield placed fourth with a score of 601 (310-291), and George Fox University was fifth at 616 (319-297). Tied for sixth place were Pacific Lutheran (335-300) and Puget Sound (331-304), both at 635 overall. Pacific University was eighth at 640 (342-298) and Lewis & Clark College placed ninth at 675 (352-323). All nine teams registered lower scores on the second day as the weather improved. Wind, rain, and hail were key factors in the first round.

Weirth and Olson were joined on Willamette's team entry by Andrew Kibbee (Grad., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS), Oliver Smith (Fy., San Jose, CA/Pioneer HS), and Riley Lankford (Grad., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS). Kibbee tied for 14th place at 151 with rounds of 77 and 74. Smith shot 152 (80-72) as he tied for 16th. Lankford lowered his score by 10 strokes in the second round, shooting an 84 followed by a 74 for a total of 158.

The NWC Spring Classic is one of three tournaments used to determine the overall Northwest Conference champion each season. The NWC Spring Classic is worth one-fourth of the title and the NWC Fall Classic is worth one-fourth of the title. The NWC Tournament is worth one-half of the title. Willamette took second place at the NWC Fall Classic, while Whitworth placed first and Whitman was third.

In unofficial overall standings after two of the three events, Whitworth is in first place with 15 points, Whitman is second at 14 points, Willamette is third at 13 points, and Linfield is fourth with 10 points. Pacific Lutheran is fifth with 6.5 points, George Fox is sixth at 5 points, Puget Sound is seventh at 4.5 points, Pacific is eighth at 4 points, and Lewis & Clark is ninth with no points.

The Bearcats are scheduled to compete at the 2023 Northwest Conference Tournament on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23. The NWC Tournament will be held at the Oregon Golf Association (OGA) Golf Course in Woodburn, Oregon.