MCMINNVILLE, Ore.—Four Lewis & Clark College men's golfers finished in the top-20 on Sunday, to help Lewis & Clark move into sixth place in the overall Northwest Conference standings with 18 holes left in the season. 
 
THE BASICS
 
Lewis & Clark Men's Golf – 6^th out of 9 Teams - +15 (303) 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Pioneers wrapped up Sunday's Day One of the NWC Championship Tournament sixth overall – just five strokes back of second-place Whitman College. 
 
After entering the tournament in seventh in the conference standings on aggregate, Lewis & Clark moved past Whitworth University (+23 on Sunday). The Pioneers will enter Monday's final round of the season in sixth overall. They sit 14 strokes back of Linfield University (third place), 13 of George Fox University (fourth place) and eight behind Pacific Lutheran University (fifth place). Lewis & Clark holds a six-stroke lead over seventh-place Whitworth University and sizeable leads over the University of Puget Sound (30 strokes) and Pacific University (72 strokes). 
 
First year Joonho Moon posted the best round of his season at an NWC event. He led the team with a 74 (+2) to finish the day in a tie for ninth overall. Moon led Lewis & Clark with five birdies on the day. He started and finished his day with a bogey and double bogey but played tremendous golf in between. The first year started on the back nine and after going +3 through his first four holes, he went -4 over the next 12 holes. 
 
First year Mason Hill kept up his strong play in the second half of the season by wrapping up the day second on the team. He finished Sunday in a tie for 14^th place with a round of 75 (+3). Hill was +4 through his 12 holes. He ended his round with five pars and a birdie over his final six holes to close the day +3. 
 
First year Charlie Hageman and sophomore Kenji Pickeral tied for third on the team with a 77 (+5). The pair both ended the day in a tie for 19^th overall. 
 
Hageman had a mostly clean day with 14 pars, three bogeys and one double bogey. After going +4 on the back nine, he notched eight pars and one bogey in his final nine holes. He posted seven-straight pars to close out his round. 
 
Pickeral had an even stronger finish to his day. He was sitting +5 after his first six holes. Pickeral posted two birdies and one double bogey over his final 12 holes to stay at +5. He birdied the par four 16^th and added a birdie on the par five fifth. He went -2 over that eight-hole stretch. 
 
Sophomore Luke Blankinship was the Pioneers fifth scorer on Sunday. He shot an 81 (+9) to finish in a tie for 37^th overall. Blankinship registered six pars and two birdies during his round. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• The Pioneers finished first in the field with their 3.24 average (+6) on Par 3s. 
• Moon and Hill are both in the top-three in the field on Par 3s through 18 holes. Moon tied with Whitman University's Grady Brown for first with a 2.60 average (-2). Hill was tied for third with his average of 2.80 (-1). 
• Lewis & Clark finished third as a team with their 49 pars. 
• Hageman ended the day tied for first in the field with his 14 pars. 
• Moon wrapped the day in a tie for third with his five birdies. 
• Pickeral made his collegiate conference debut on Sunday. The sophomore transfer shot a 77 (+5) – which is tied for the third-best round of his season/collegiate career.  

WHO'S NEXT 
 
Lewis & Clark will return to Michelbrook Country Club on Monday for their final round of the 2024-25 season. The Pioneers will tee off beginning at 9:08 a.m.