By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

WOODBURN, Ore. -- Oliver Smith (Fy., San Jose, CA/Pioneer HS) on the Willamette University men's golf team ended the first round tied for first place with a 3-under-par 69 during the 2023 Northwest Conference Tournament on Saturday, April 22 at the Oregon Golf Association (OGA) Golf Course. The Bearcats held second place in the team standings, just one stroke behind Whitman College.

The NWC Tournament will conclude on Sunday, April 23 with the second round. All golfers will begin the final 18 holes at 8:30 a.m. (PDT) with a shotgun start.

Smith was tied for the individual lead with Brenden Borck from George Fox University, who also carded a 69. Smith shot 1-under 35 on the front nine and earned a 2-under 34 on the back nine. He had four birdies, 13 pars, and one bogey. Borck's round featured an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole, four birdies, 10 pars, and three bogeys.

Tom Hoyne of Whitman and Jacob Rawley of Whitworth University were tied for third place at 71. Four golfers, including Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) of Willamette, were tied for fifth place after shooting 72. Joining Weirth in fifth place were Parker Krovisky from Whitman, Trevor Price of Linfield University, and Keon Solis from Pacific Lutheran University. Willamette's Andrew Kibbee (Grad., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) was ninth on the leaderboard with a 73. Seven golfers shared 10th place with scores of 74.

Also competing for Willamette were Brock Olson (Fy., Kirkland, WA/Lake Washington HS) and Jack McMullin (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS). Olson carded a 78 in the first round, while McMullin shot a 79.

At the conclusion of the round, Whitman was in first place in the team standings at 3-over par 291. Willamette was second at 292, and Whitworth was third at 294. Linfield University completed the round in fourth place at 296, while Pacific Lutheran was fifth at 305. Pacific University held sixth place at 306, one stroke behind the Lutes. The University of Puget Sound was seventh at 312, with George Fox in eighth at 313, and Lewis & Clark College in ninth at 334.

The NWC Tournament is worth one-half of the overall 2022-23 NWC Championship. The NWC Fall Classic is worth one-fourth of the title and the NWC Spring Classic is worth one-fourth of the title. Prior to this weekend, Whitworth was in first place with 15 points in the NWC standings. Whitman was in second at 14 points, Willamette was third at 13 points, and Linfield was fourth with 10 points. The winner of the NWC Tournament will receive 16 points, with points awarded on a 14-12-10-8-etc. basis to the other teams according to their finish.

If Willamette wins the tournament, the Bearcats will clinch at least a tie for the overall title, but a second place finish by Whitworth would lead to a tie, forcing a tie-breaker. In order to win the title outright, the Bearcats need to finish in front of Whitworth and Whitman with at least one team between the Bearcats and Whitworth.