By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University men's golfers have combined their efforts in the classroom to earn an All-Academic Team Award from the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) for the 2022-23 season. The All-Academic Team designation went to squads with at least a 3.0 cumulative team GPA.

This year, Carleton College (Minn.) was named the Academic National Champion for NCAA Division III with a 3.78 cumulative team GPA. Willamette was one of just 39 teams in NCAA Division III and the only team from the Northwest Conference chosen for All-Academic status.

"It is another great accomplishment by the guys," Willamette Director of Golf Patrick Daugherty said. "I feel very fortunate to have athletes that are bought into our focus on academics here at Willamette. We believe in winning in the classroom just as much as on the course and this award shows that."

Willamette won the overall NWC Championship for the fourth consecutive season (no championship was held in 2019-20) and received the NWC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship. The Bearcats placed 18th at the 72-hole national tournament in Nicholasville, Ky. Willamette won the team title at four tournaments during the season.

In addition to receiving the All-Academic Team Award, the Bearcats also earned All-America Scholar recognition for three members of the men's golf team. Willamette's individual award winners were Andrew Kibbee (Grad., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS), Alex Weirth (Sr., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy), and Paxton Jones (So., Wellington, NZ/Scots College).

Note:  Academic year listed for each student-athlete is for the 2022-23 season