By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University has moved up three spots to #18 in the latest Bushnell/Golfweek NCAA Division III Men's Golf Coaches Poll. The Bearcats most recently won the Wildcat Invitational by three strokes with a score of 581 (290-291) on Sept. 24-25. The tournament was hosted by Linfield University at Michelbook Country Club in McMinnville, Ore. The Bearcats did not compete this past weekend.

Methodist University (N.C.) remained #1 in the nation with 448 points and 16 of 17 first place votes. Emory University (Ga.) stayed at #2 with 422 points. Huntingdon College (Ala.) and Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) continued at #3 and #4, respectively. Huntingdon received 351 points in the poll, while Carnegie Mellon received 346. Christopher Newport University (Va.) advanced four spots to grab the #5 ranking with 324 points.

In addition to Willamette at #18, other Region VII teams in the Top 25 were Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) at #7 and the University of Redlands (Calif.) at #19. Region VII teams that received points in the poll but did not reach the Top 25 were the University of Texas-Dallas, LeTourneau University (Texas), the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas), Trinity University (Texas), the University of Dallas (Texas), Pomona-Pitzer College (Calif.), and Whitman College.

Willamette is set to host the Northwest Conference Fall Classic on Saturday, Oct. 8 and Sunday, Oct. 9 at Creekside Golf Club in Salem. The 36-hole tournament is one of three events used each year to determine the Northwest Conference mens' golf championship. The remaining tournaments -- the NWC Spring Classic and the NWC Tournament -- will be held during the 2023 spring semester.