WOODBURN, Ore. – The Whitworth University men's golf team fell out of contention for the 2022-23 Northwest Conference championship by fading on the second day of the 2023 NWC Tournament on Sunday at the Oregon Golf Association golf course.
Willamette, which had yet to win a conference-counting event this season, surged over the final nine holes to overtake Whitman and not only win the final tournament, but claim the overall NWC title. The final team scores from the weekend were: Willamette 584 (+8), Whitman 586, Linfield 594, Whitworth 598, Pacific Lutheran 613, Puget Sound 625, George Fox 627, Pacific (Ore.) 628, Lewis & Clark 672.
The final conference standings are determined by points accumulated at the NWC Fall Classic (25%), NWC Spring Classic (25%) and NWC Tournament (50%).
Willamette earned the NWC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament for the third straight season. Whitman's Tom Hoyne was the NWC medalist after shooting 71-68 – 139 (-5).
Sam Pauly and Jacob Rawley led the Pirate men by tying for seventh place. Pauly shot 74-73 – 147 and Rawley put up a 71-76 – 147. Oliver Nordberg (74-77 – 151) tied for 16th place, Matthew Durkin (75-78 – 153) finished 20th and Caden Martinsen (77-80 – 157) tied for 26th. There were 45 competitors in the tournament.
Whitworth has been in the hunt for the conference championship each of the last three years. The Pirates will return virtually their entire roster next season.
The final 2022-23 NWC Standings:
1. Willamette – 29 points
2. Whitman – 28
3. Whitworth – 25
4. Linfield – 22
5. Pacific Lutheran – 14.5
6. Puget Sound – 10.5
7. George Fox – 9
8. Pacific (Ore.) – 6
9. Lewis & Clark - 0
