Press Release
3/10/2008 - PACIFIC INVITATIONAL: Bruins Consistent but Finish 6th in Pacific Invitational
HILLSBORO/NORTH PLAINS, Ore. - Although they were the most consistent team in the tournament, changing scores by only one stroke from the first day to the second, the George Fox University Bruins could manage only a sixth-place finish out of seven teams in the Pacific University Men's Golf Invitational Sunday and Monday here at two different courses in the Portland area.
The Bruins shot a 353 on Sunday at the Meriwether National Golf Course in Hillsboro, then posted a 352 on Monday at Pumpkin Ridge's Ghost Creek course for a two-day score of 705. Linfield College edged Central Oregon Community College 593 to 605 to win the event. Third place went to host Pacific at 616, with Corban College fourth at 636, Whitman College fifth at 677, George Fox, and Lewis & Clark College was seventh at 723.
David Burkhart led the Bruins with an 85-80=165, tying for 20th in individual scoring. Also counting for the Bruins were Kelton Johnson with a 92-86=178, Ben Ulrich with an 87-93=180, and Brett Tharp with an 89-93=182. Daniel Grierson shot a 93-95=188 and Matt Simpson had a 105-97=202 to round out the Bruins' play.
Medalist honors went to Joel Rychard of Linfield, carding a 70-74=144 to edge Christian Green of Central Oregon, who shot a 74-71=145, by one stroke.
The next event for the Bruins is the Willamette Invitational on Monday, Mar. 17, at the Creekside Country Club in Salem, Ore. Tee time is set for 9:00 a.m.