North Plains, Ore. — The Willamette Bearcats men's golf capped a strong spring by claiming the 2026 Northwest Conference (NWC) Men’s Golf Championship on Monday, April 20, at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, securing the program’s conference title with a consistent performance across the season’s three events.
Willamette combined victories at the NWC Fall Classic and NWC Championship Tournament with a standout showing at the Spring Classic to clinch the overall conference crown. With the title, the Bearcats earn the NWC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships, set for May 12–15 at Mission Resort + Club.
Individually, Douglas Bailey of Linfield Wildcats men's golf earned medalist honors after prevailing in a playoff. Bailey defeated Brock Olson of Willamette after both golfers finished at 137 (-5) for the tournament.
The Bearcats placed three golfers inside the top four, led by Olson’s runner-up finish. AJ Papajohn took third at 139 (69-70), followed by Michael Baldwin in fourth at 140 (69-71). A tightly contested race for fifth saw Lewis & Clark's Luke Blankenship, Linfield's Brody Landaker, Whitworth's Max Hosfeld, and Pacific's Ryan Murray finish in a four-way tie at 143.
In the team standings, Willamette surged on the second day to post a winning total of 560 (278-282). Linfield followed in second at 574 (277-297), with Whitman taking third at 581. Lewis & Clark (591), Pacific Lutheran (594), George Fox (598), Whitworth (601), Pacific (602), and Puget Sound (606) rounded out the field.
Postseason awards were also announced following the championship. Bailey was named NWC Player of the Year, while Baldwin earned Rookie of the Year honors. Mitch Wilson was recognized as the NWC Men’s Coach of the Year.
Full results can be found here.
| Men |
Fall Classic |
Spring Classic |
NWC Championship |
Aggregate Stroke Total |
| Willamette |
577 |
598 |
560 |
1735 |
| Linfield |
593 |
579 |
574 |
1746 |
| Whitman |
586 |
587 |
581 |
1754 |
| Pacific Lutheran |
594 |
601 |
594 |
1789 |
| George Fox |
602 |
595 |
598 |
1795 |
| Lewis & Clark |
606 |
604 |
591 |
1801 |
| Whitworth |
596 |
605 |
601 |
1802 |
| Pacific |
621 |
613 |
602 |
1836 |
| Puget Sound |
630 |
604 |
606 |
1840 |