Bearcats Kraal Ties for Third at NWC Southern Division Golf Tournament

Willamette senior also wins in first round of match play.

Salem-News.com Sports

Willamette senior also wins in first - Martin Kraal of Willamette University shot 74 (38-36) to tie for third place individually at the Northwest Conference Southern Division Four-Way Tournament #1, hosted by Pacific University at the Quail Valley Golf Course on Saturday, Sept. 23rd.

Willamette took third place as a team with a score of 314, as the Bearcats trailed Linfield College (290) and Pacific (311), while finishing in front of Lewis & Clark College (343).

Kraal was one of three players who tied for third. Also carding a 74 were Andrew Fitch (36-38) and Tyler Nelson (38-36), both from Linfield. Medalist honors went to Matt Taylor of Linfield, who shot a 70 (34-36). Second place was earned by Kyle Henderson of Linfield with a 72 (33-39).

Willamette’s team score included Kraal’s 74 to lead the way. The remaining players contributing to the team score were Baylor Falk with a 77 (38-39), Hardy Almes with an 80 (39-41) and Robbie Beard with an 83 (36-47). Other Willamette competitors were Tyler Robinson with an 88 (42-46-88) and Ryan Moothart with a 104 (50-54).

The day’s activities also included the start of the NWC Southern Division Match Play Tournament. The match play event features 16 entrants, with four from each college or university. Kraal won his first round match, 6 and 4, over Brock Laster from Pacific, to record Willamette’s only win of the match play segment. Falk of Willamette was defeated in match play, 3 and 2, by Brian Pan of Pacific. Willamette’s Robinson fell to Sean Hamer of Pacific, 7 and 5. The closest match of the day was won by Dan Cashmere from Pacific, who defeated Almes of Willamette, 1 up.

Kraal will play Henderson from Linfield in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, Oct. 4th at Michelbrook Country Club in McMinnville, Ore. Other quarterfinal matchups pair Nelson of Linfield against Pan of Pacific, Hamer of Pacific against Jeff Nigro of Linfield, and Cashmere of Pacific against Fitch of Linfield. The semifinals have been scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 8th at the OGA course in Woodburn, Ore., with the championship match set for Monday, Oct. 16th at Illahe Hills Country Club in Salem, Ore. The three remaining Southern Division four-way tournaments are scheduled for the same days and locations as the final three rounds of match play.

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