April 20, 2008

Linfield Wins Northwest Conference Men’s Golf Title

Final Results

YAKIMA, Wash. – Linfield followed up a strong first round with a solid final day to win the Northwest Conference Championship tournament and with it the conference men’s team title.

According to Northwest Conference archives, the title is Linfield’s first in men's golf since 1964.

The Wildcats made their initial move toward winning the team title on Saturday, shooting an even-par 288 during the opening round of the Northwest Conference Championship held at Apple Tree Golf Club. They followed that up with a 303 on Sunday for a 36-hole total of 591, more than enough to hold off the challenge of Whitworth (307-298 – 605) and Pacific (299-310 – 609).

Puget Sound finished fourth in the tournament (305-313 – 618), followed by Pacific Lutheran (314-311 – 625), Willamette (321-330 – 651), George Fox (341-353 – 694), Lewis & Clark (344-358 – 702) and Whitman (359-346 – 705).

Max Bonk from Pacific earned medalist honors, following up his opening round four-under-par 68 with a 73 for a two-round total of three-under 141. Bonk was joined on the all-conference team by Pacific Lutheran’s Chris Packard (71-74 – 145), Linfield’s Andrew Fitch (69-76 – 145) and Tyler Nelson (72-74 – 146), and Whitworth’s Jordan Carter (78-71 – 149), Conner McCracken (75-75 – 150) and Andrew Parrott (76-74 – 150).

Linfield came into the season-ending tournament tied with Pacific and Whitworth for the conference lead, each with 14 points based on finishes in the NWC Fall Classic and NWC Spring Classic. The Wildcats’ 288 on Saturday proved to be the difference, giving them plenty of breathing room during Sunday’s final round.

The final conference standing and point totals look like this: Linfield 30; Whitworth 28; Pacific 26; Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran 18 (tie); Willamette 12; George Fox 5; Lewis & Clark 4; and Whitman 3.

- NWC -