BLUE RIVER, Ore. - Led by individual medalist Steven Johnson, Whitworth completed one of the most dominating performances in Northwest Conference golf history, winning the 2007 NWC tournament by 19 strokes at Tokatee Golf Course today and in the process securing its third straight conference title. By doing so, the Pirates earn the NWC's first automatic team bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Johnson is the second Pirate to win the NWC individual title

Click here for final results.

Whitworth posted the best team score in all three rounds of the tournament and finished with a score of 870. Whitworth shot rounds of 292 and 283 yesterday and then shot a round of 295 today. The three-round score is the second lowest total in NWC history. Only the total of 868 by Pacific Lutheran in 2001 was better. The 2001 Lutes were also the last team to win by as wide a margin as Whitworth in 2007, defeating second place UPS by 24 strokes.

The Lutes shot 301-288-300-889, 15 strokes better than Linfield (304-293-307-904). Linfield came into the tournament leading the NWC standings by one point over Whitworth. The rest of the team scores were Pacific 910, Puget Sound 922, Willamette 935, Whitman 962 and Lewis & Clark 1,000.

Johnson shot a three round score of 69-73-76 - 218 to defeat Brian Misterek (75-67-77 - 219) and Jason Casey (74-74-71 - 219), both of PLU, by one stroke. Whitworth’s Andrew Parrott closed well with a score of 80-70-71 - 221 for fourth place. Patrick Dorsing was right behind Parrott, tied for fifth place (76-70-76 - 222) with Sean Thompson (73-77-73 - 222) and PLU's Chris Packard. Jordan Carter's score of 73-77-73 - 223 gave Whitworth five golfers among the top eight finishers. James Dykes (74-77-77 - 228) finished tied for 16th place.

Johnson is the second Pirate in a row to win medalist honors at the NWC tournament. Parrott was last year's champion.

Based on results from the NWC Fall Classic, the NWC Spring Classic and the NWC Tournament, the final conference point totals and standings are: Whitworth 26.5, Linfield 23.5, Pacific Lutheran 19, Pacific 16, Puget Sound 15, Willamette 8, Whitman 4 and Lewis & Clark 0.

2007 is the first year the NWC has had an automatic bid to the national tournament available for the conference champion. The NCAA Division III Men's Tournament will be held May 15-18 near Indianapolis, Indiana. Two rounds will be played at Hawthorn Country Club in Fishers, Ind. and two at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel, Ind.

TOURNEY NOTES: Tokatee Golf Club, about 35 miles east of Springfield, is surrounded by Cascade mountains and borders the scenic McKenzie River.

Entering the NWC championships, Linfield held a narrow one-point lead over two-time defending champion Whitworth in the points race for the conference crown.

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