GEORGE FOX INVITATIONAL: Sub-Par Fitch Leads Linfield to Easy Tournament Title

NEWBERG, Ore. – Led by Alex Fitch’s two-day four-under-par 140, the Linfield College Wildcats extended their first-day lead from 22 strokes to a final 55-shot margin and cruised to an easy victory as the George Fox University Invitational Men’s Golf Tournament came to a close Sunday afternoon here at the Chehalem Glenn Golf Course.

The Wildcats’ “A” team shot a blistering four-player score of 292, just four-over-par, on Sunday, finishing with a 17-over total of 593 after a 301 on Saturday.  The host George Fox Bruins were second with a two-day score of 323-325=648, and the Linfield “B” team shot a 329-325=654.  Lewis & Clark had two individuals entered but no team score.

Linfield’s “A” group took the top three individual spots, with Fitch carding a 70-70=140 to take medalist honors by nine strokes.  A.J. Taylor was second with a 75-74=149, followed by Taylor Pirnke with a 75-78=153.  There was a three-way tie for fourth among Linfield’s Thomas Arand (82-75=157), George Fox’s Aleks Gabrio (76-81=157), and the Bruins’ Mike Ulstad (80-77=157).

Other George Fox scores included an 80-81=161 by Chris Lumsden, tying for seventh; an 87-86=173 by Tyler Dyck, who finished 15th; and a 104-100=204 by Harrison Godsby, which put him 16th.  Joel Stude, who was unable to play on Saturday, shot a 100 in his only round on Sunday.

Tommy Schmitz shot an 83-78=161 to tie for seventh, leading the Linfield “B” team, and Jack Matthews had Lewis & Clark’s best score of 84-83=167, placing 13th.

Complete results 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.

NEXT: George Fox will compete in the Pacific University Invitational on Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 24-25, at the Quail Valley Golf Course in Banks, Ore.  Tee times are to be announced.