MCMINNVILLE, Ore.—Lewis & Clark College men's golf finished in a tie for fifth at the Northwest Conference Championship Tournament on Monday, to earn their best finish in the final NWC Standings since the 2016-17 season. 
 
THE BASICS
 
Lewis & Clark Men's Golf – T-5^th out of 9 Teams – +33 (609: 303-306) 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Pioneers used back-to-back top-five finishes at NWC events to finish in sixth place in the full-year NWC Standings. Lewis & Clark posted an aggregate score of 1,788 to edge seventh-place Whitworth University (1,793) by five strokes over six rounds. The finish was the best season for men's golf since they ended the 2016-17 season in fifth place in the conference. 
 
First year Mason Hill posted a second-straight 75 (+3) on Monday to finish first on the team. He wrapped up the 36-holes in a tie for 12^th overall in the field with a score of 150 (+6). Hill recorded three birdies and six bogeys on Monday. He had a strong start to the day. Hill was even through his first seven holes after notching a bogey on the second, a birdie on the third and four-straight pars. After a rough turn, he closed out his first season with three-straight pars to wrap up the day. 
 
Sophomore Kenji Pickeral matched Hill with a 75 (+3) on Day Two to finish second on the team for the tournament. Pickeral posted a score of +8 (152) to end the two days in a tie for 16^th.  After a mostly clean front nine, Pickeral finished even on the back nine with three birdies, one bogey and a double bogey. He posted seven pars on the front nine and was even from the second to the 12^th hole. After a second double-bogey, Pickeral registered birdies on the 14^th and 16^th holes to get back to +2. 
 
First year Charlie Hageman wrapped up the day and the tournament in third on the team. He carded a 76 (+4) to finish the NWC Championship with a score of 153 (+9). Hageman ended the day in a tie for 18^th overall. Hageman had a rough start to the day with two bogeys and a double bogey on the front nine. He settled in over the final 11 holes and posted just two bogeys, to go along with his second birdie of the round. Hageman notched four-straight pars to close out his season. 
 
First year Joonho Moon ended the tournament in a tie for 23^rd overall. He registered an 80 (+8) to finish the week with a 154 (+10). Moon had a strong day outside of three holes. He posted three birdies, three bogeys and three holes of double bogey or worse. He played well on the first eight holes of the back nine with one birdie and two bogeys. 
 
Sophomore Luke Blankinship posted a second-straight 81 (+9) to finish the tournament 40^th overall. Blankinship posted a two-day score of 162 (+18). Blankinship totaled four birdies and five pars across his round on Monday. He notched back-to-back birdies on the par three 6^th and par 5 seventh holes. 
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Lewis & Clark finished first as a team with their average of 3.20 (+10) on Par 3s. The Pioneers were five strokes clear of Pacific Lutheran University (+15) and Linfield University (+15). 
• Moon tied for first across the 36 holes with his 2.90 average (-1) on Par 3s. Hill (3.10, +1), Hageman (3.20, +2) and Pickeral (3.20, +2) all finished in the top-six in the field. 
• Hageman ended the week tied for first in the field with 25 pars. 
• Linfield won the NWC Tournament with a team score of 581 (+5). Wildcats sophomore Douglas Bailey was named the NWC Medalist after winning a playoff against George Fox University's Brenden Borck. Both players wrapped up the tournament at -2. 
• The Pioneers ended the week tied for third in the field in birdies with 27. 
• Lewis & Clark finished tied for fifth on the week with Pacific Lutheran at +33. They were just four strokes behind fourth-place George Fox (+29). 
• Moon ended tied for eighth in the field on Par 4s (4.13, +2). Blankinship led the team on Par 5s (4.80, -2). He finished in a tie for sixth in the field on Par 5s. 
• Willamette won the overall NWC Title and the conference's automatic qualifier. The Bearcats wrapped up the season with an aggregate score of 1,737 strokes across the three NWC Tournaments. Whitman College (1,744), Linfield (1,753), George Fox (1,773) and Pacific Lutheran University (1,781) finished second through fifth. 
• Moon finished tied for third overall with his eight birdies. 
• Willamette's Oliver Smith was named the NWC Player of the Year. Ryder Ng of Linfield was honored as the NWC Rookie of the Year. Men's Coach of the Year went to Patrick Daugherty of Willamette.

WHO'S NEXT 
 
Lewis & Clark anticipates bringing back eighth of their nine players for the 2025-26 season. Senior Jon Westlake is graduating but is expected to return as a member of the team's coaching staff.