Walla Walla, Wash. - Willamette Men's Golf stands in first place after the opening round of the Northwest Conference Spring Classic after shooting a 9-under 279 as a team.  Brock Olson (68) and Alexander Papajohn (69) led the Bearcats, as Jack Carr (71) and Oliver Smith (71) joined them under par to put all four players in red numbers for the day. 

Willamette got off to a strong start, with Olson scoring a birdie on the opening hole and four of the five Bearcats getting birdies on the par-5 third hole, to put the Bearcats four under par after just three holes.  The team gave some strokes back with bogies on hole number five, but an eagle by Papajohn and Birdie by Smith two holes later put Willamette back at -4.  

Olson started the back nine with three consecutive birdies to put Willamette at -8, and the Bearcats finished out their round with birdies by Papajohn and Smith to finish at a total of 279, eight strokes ahead of second-place Whitman College.  

The final round of the Spring Classic is scheduled for Monday, April 7th, and will wrap up the second of three events that determine the overall Northwest Conference Champion.  Linfield will host the final event on April 20th and 21st.