News Release Date:
Monday, October 12

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Balancing three birdies with three bogies and three pars over the final nine holes, Whitman's Brian Barton captured medalist honors Monday afternoon as the Northwest Conference Northern Colleges Golf Tournament came to a close at the Oakbrook Golf Club in Lakewood, Wash.

Barton, a junior, finished strong for a 2-over par 74 in Monday's second round. His 36-hole score of 148 was two shots better than Puget Sound's Jordan Holdge, who struggled to an 81 Monday to finish in second place with a 151 total.

Brian Barton

Barton's teammates didn't fare as well, however, as they did in Sunday's opening round, when they helped post a team score that was just two strokes behind co-leaders Whitworth and and Puget Sound.

By the time Monday's dust settled, in fact, Whitman had slipped from third to fourth in the final team standings. Whitworth took first with a two-day total of 610, 13 strokes in front of runner-up Puget Sound. Pacific Lutheran rallied for a 629, nipping Whitman by two strokes.

Max Rausch, a Whitman junior, matched Barton in terms of steady play on Monday, shooting his second straight 80 to finish with a 160. 

Sophomore John Abercrombie, after a 76 on Sunday, finished with an 84 to join Rausch at 160. Freshman Geoff Burks, who also shot 76 in the opening round, skied to an 87 on Monday for a 163 total.

Senior Grant Brandal stayed on even keel, shooting 86 in the closing round for a 173 total. Junior Noah Jolley chopped six strokes off his Sunday score to finish at 194.

Final Results

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CONTACT: Dave Holden
Sports Information Director
Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash.
509 527-5902; holden@whitman.edu