By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. -- The Willamette University men's golf team recorded its second consecutive score of 294, as the Bearcat held 13th place at 12-over par 588 through 36 holes of the 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship at the Keene Trace Golf Club on Wednesday, May 17. Willamette played on the Keene Run Golf Course in the second round after shooting 294 on the Champion Trace Golf Course during the first round on Tuesday.
The Bearcats advanced into the final two rounds of the tournament which will be held on Thursday, May 18 and Friday, May 19. At the end of Wednesday's round, the field was reduced from 43 teams to the top 18 teams, plus the top six golfers who were not on the advancing teams. This year's team cut was at 18-over par 594. Washington & Lee University (Va.) and host Transylvania University (Ky.) tied for 18th place, with Washington & Lee winning the scorecard tie-breaker.
Willamette's strong showing in the second round was led by Riley Lankford (Grad., Pilot Rock, OR/Pilot Rock HS) who carded an even-par 72. Andrew Kibbee (Grad., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) followed with a 1-over par 73, as he ended the day at even-par 144 through 36 holes, placing him in a tie for 21st out of 221 golfers. Lankford was tied for 38th on the individual leaderboard at 146.
Oliver Smith (Fy., San Jose, CA/Pioneer HS) of Willamette carded a 2-over par 74 in the second round, as he rebounded from an 85 in the first round for a 36-hole score of 159.
Brock Olson (Fy., Kirkland, WA/Lake Washington HS) shot a 75 for the second round in a row. Olson was tied for 87th with an overall score of 150. Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy) shot an 80 in Wednesday's round and was at 154 through two rounds.
Methodist University (N.C.) moved up three spots in the team standings to end the second round tied for first place with Piedmont University (Ga.) at 573. Methodist shot 288-285 in the first two rounds, while Piedmont carded 289-284. Another tie followed for third place between Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.), Christopher Newport University (Va.), and St. John's University (Minn.) at 577. Carnegie Mellon shot 292-285, Christopher Newport shot 286-291, and St. John's shot 284-293.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) held sixth place at 579 (290-288). Guilford College (N.C.) and Illinois Wesleyan University were tied for seventh place with matching 36-hole scores of 580. Guilford carded 297-283 and Illinois Wesleyan shot 285-295. A tie for ninth place included Emory University (Ga.) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.), both at 581. Emory recorded scores of 290 and 291, while CMS shot 296 and 285.
The individual leaderboard was topped by a four-way tie for first place. Henry Scavone of Carnegie Mellon, who shot a 5-under par 67 in the second round after carding a 73 in the first round for a total score of 140 to earn a share of the lead. Also tied for first place were Alex Price of Christopher Newport (69-71), Sam Berger of St. John's (68-72) and Bobby Beaubien of Illinois Wesleyan (67-73).
A three-way tie for fifth place at 141 featured Thomas Fraser from Rensselaer Polytechnic, who shot 71-70, Robb Kinder of Christopher Newport, who shot 69-72, and Brian Hanson of Emory, with scores of 67 and 74. Six golfers were tied for eighth place at 142.
The reduced field of 96 golfers will compete over the final 36 holes to determine the team and individual champions for 2022-23. Action in the final two rounds will be held on the Champion Trace Golf Course.
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