WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Whitman College sophomore Andy Knapp shot a 36-hole total of 144, two over par, to grab a share of the low medalist honors in a three-school Northwest Conference tournament Monday and Tuesday at Lake Spanaway Golf Course in Tacoma, Wash.
Knapp shot an even-par 71 on a rain-dampened Monday to lead the tournament. But Pacific Lutheran's Tyler Kalberg shot 69 during better weather Tuesday to finish in a first-place tie with Knapp for the individual tournament title.
Knapp nearly won the tournament outright on the final hole Tuesday. His 20-foot birdie putt, however, stopped just short of hole, Whitman coach Peter McClure said. "Andy has been playing very well this fall in our practice rounds," McClure said. "He's had a number of rounds below par."
Knapp is the second Whitman golfer this calendar year to win, or at least share the top honors, in a 36-hole NWC tournament. Adam Heyd, now a junior, won the Erv Marlow Jr. Collegiate Golf Tournament last April, which was played at Lake Spanaway and the nearby Fircrest Golf Course.
Pacific Lutheran, the host school in this week's tournament, took first in the team scoring with a two-day total of 582 for its top four golfers each day. Puget Sound was second with a 588 total, while Whitman finished with a 609.
Heyd and sophomore Jack Storti also had solid back-to-back rounds for the Missionaries in this week's competition, shooting in the 70s both days. Heyd shot 74 and 76 to finish with a 150, six strokes back of the two winners. Storti, a sophomore, shot 77 and 75 for a 152 total.
Erik Scott, also a sophomore, shot 83 Monday but rebounded with a 79 on Tuesday to total 162. Rounding out the Whitman contingent were senior Joey Bristol, whose two-day score was 175, and sophomore Doug Whitfield, who carded a 179.
In the women's portion of the tournament, Jessica Nicoles of Walla Walla had Whitman's best score, a two-day score of 219. Also scoring for the Missionary women were Lynnelle McNamee 222, Hana Tysver 243, and Michelle Wall 270.
Pacific Lutheran's Emma Sellen had the low women's score at 178. Only Pacific Lutheran and Whitman field full women's teams.