By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Oliver Smith (So., San Jose, CA/Pioneer HS) of Willamette University won medalist honors with a 6-under par 65 and the Bearcats shot an even-par 284 to defeat rival Linfield University by two strokes at the Bearcat Challenge #1 on Saturday, April 13 at Trysting Tree Golf Club. Linfield finished the event with a team score of 286. The Bearcats and the Wildcats each entered a second team in the tournament. Linfield's "B" team shot 293 and Willamette's "B" team shot 308.

The 18-hole tournament ended with Smith's 65 sitting atop the individual leaderboard by four strokes. Jack Carr (Fy., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage HS), also from Willamette, was second with a 2-under par 69. Trevor Price of Linfield took third place with a 1-under par 70 and Ryo Kobayashi of the Linfield "B" team was fourth at even-par 71.

Four golfers from Linfield tied for fifth place at 1-over par 72. They were Zack LaPlaca, Riley Lynch, and Jacob Smissen from the Wildcats' top team and Grant Moen from the Linfield "B" team. Preston Lightle (Fy., Victoria, BC, Canada/Belmont Senior Secondary School) of WU and Douglas Bailey from Linfield tied for ninth place at 73.

Joining Smith, Carr, and Lightle on Willamette's top team were Alexander Papajohn (Fy., Parker, CO/Lutheran HS) and Brock Olson (So., Kirkland, WA/Lake Washington HS). Papajohn carded a 77 and Olson shot a 79.

Willamette's "B" team was led by Paxton Jones (Jr., Wellington, NZ/Scots College), who recorded a 74. Kyler Phillips (Fy., Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad HS) shot 77, Jack McMullin (Sr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) registered a 78,  Lucas Paul (So., Salem, OR/South Salem HS) carded 79, and Connor Murphy (So., Palm Desert, CA/Xavier College Prep) shot 81.

The Bearcats and the Wildcats will battle for the second consecutive day on Sunday, April 14 at the Bearcat Challenge #2. The 18-hole event will be played at Langdon Farms Golf Club in Aurora, Oregon.