By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

AURORA, Ore. -- For the second day in a row, Oliver Smith (So., San Jose, CA/Pioneer HS) of Willamette University took first place in an 18-hole tournament between the Bearcats and Linfield University. On Saturday, April 13, he carded a score of 6-under par 65 to win by four strokes at the Bearcat Challenge #1, held at Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis, Oregon. On Sunday, April 14 in the Bearcat Challenge #2 at Langdon Farms Golf Club, Smith won with a score of 2-under par 69, as he finished the event with a 2-stroke lead.

Led by Smith, the Bearcats defeated Linfield in both tournaments. On Saturday, Willamette prevailed by two strokes, as the Bearcats shot even-par 284 and the Wildcats shot 286. During Sunday's action at Langdon Farms, the Bearcats won by six strokes with a winning score of 2-over par 286, while Linfield shot 292.

Willamette and Linfield each entered a second team in both tournaments. In the Bearcat Challenge #2 at Langdon Farms, Linfield's "B" team carded a score of 307 and Willamette's "B" team registered a score of 314.

On Sunday, Smith's winning round of 69 was followed by a tie for second place at even-par 71 shared by Brock Olson (So., Kirkland, WA/Lake Washington HS) of Willamette and Trevor Price from Linfield. Alexander Papajohn (Fy., Parker, CO/Lutheran HS) of Willamette held fourth place with a 72. Zack LaPlaca of Linfield was fifth at 73.

Sixth place was a tie at 74 between Preston Lightle (Fy., Victoria, BC, Canada/Belmont Senior Secondary School) from Willamette, and Douglas Bailey and Riley Lynch from Linfield. Three golfers tied for ninth place after shooting 75. They were Connor Murphy (So., Palm Desert, CA/Xavier College Prep) of the Willamette "B" team, Jacob Smissen of Linfield, and Ryo Kobayashi of the Linfield "B" team.

Also competing on Willamette's top team with Smith, Olson, Papajohn and Lightle, was Jack Carr (Fy., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage HS) with a 77.

Joining Murphy as golfers on the Willamette "B" team were Kyler Phillips Kyler Phillips (Fy., Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad HS), Paxton Jones (Jr., Wellington, NZ/Scots College), Jack McMullin (Sr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), and Lucas Paul (So., Salem, OR/South Salem HS). Phillips carded a 76 and Paxton shot 81, while McMullin and Paul each shot 82.

Willamette will return to Langdon Farms Golf Club next weekend for the NWC Tournament. The 36-hole event is worth one-half of the overall NWC Championship and will be played on Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21. The NWC Fall Classic and the NWC Spring Classic, which have already been played, are each worth one-fourth of the overall title.