GEORGE FOX INVITATIONAL: Wildcats Take 22-Stroke Lead on 1st Day of Links Opener

NEWBERG, Ore. – In the first men’s golf tournament of the year for all of the teams involved, the Linfield College Wildcats’ “A” team took a 22-stroke lead over the George Fox University Bruins on the first day of play in the George Fox Invitational Tournament Saturday afternoon here at the Chehalem Glenn Golf Course.

Led by Alex Fitch’s 2-under-par 70 on the 6,572-yard course, the Wildcats carded a four-player score of 301 to 323 for the Bruins.  The Linfield “B” team was six strokes back at 329, while Lewis & Clark College sent two players but four are required for a team score.

Play was interrupted intermittently by brief rain showers, but that did not bother Fitch, who built a five-stroke lead over teammates Taylor Pirnke and A.J. Taylor, who shot 75’s.  The Bruins’ Aleks Gabrio was fourth, one shot back at 76, and Logan Munson of the Linfield “B” group was fifth at 78.

Other scores for the host Bruins were 80’s by Chris Lumsden and Mike Ulstad, tying them for sixth on the leaderboard, an 87 by freshman Tyler Dyck, good for 14th, and a 104 by rookie Harrison Godsby, which placed him 17th.

The tournament concludes Sunday, with the first tee time at 9:00 a.m.

Results of the first day of the George Fox Invitational are available on the George Fox men’s golf web site at http://athletics.georgefox.edu/sports/mgolf/2011-12/files/0918.htm.