SPOKANE, Wash. - Defense of its position as two-time Northwest Conference champions in men's golf begins in earnest this week for the Whitworth Pirates. And it carries more meaning than ever because for the first time the NWC champion will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in May.

The Pirates, rated 4th in the latest Golf Stat Division III standings, had an impressive showing at the Fall Spokane Cup on October 13th. Using match play scoring (one point for front nine, one for back, one for total score), the Pirates lead the point total heading into the Spring for the Spokane Cup. Whitworth earned 25 points, followed by Gonzaga (22) and CC of Spokane (17). Jordan Carter scored six points as he swept both of his matches. Andrew Parrott scored five points, Bobby Elder added 4.5 and Steven Johnson tallied 4. The 18 hole scores were just as solid for the Pirates. Parrot and Elder each shot 70's, while Carter shot 72 and Johnson and Sean Thompson each carded a 74.

The NWC Fall Classic, for both the men and women, will count 25% toward the overall final conference standings. Last season Whitworth won the Fall Classic and the NWC Tournament, and tied with Linfield for the Spring Classic title, earning the overall NWC championship. Carter was the medallist for both the Fall and Spring Classics, while Parrot was the medallist at the NWC tournament on the same course as this year's Fall Classic. The Pirates return all six players from last year's title.

The men will play at Aspen Lakes in Sisters, Oregon on Sunday and Monday. The women's Fall Classic will take place at Tokatee GC in Blue River, Oregon.

The Pirate women are rebuilding with a very strong freshman class during the 2006-07 season. Whitworth expects to move up the standings from last year's 7th place finish under the guidance of assistant coach Beth Wrigley. Alicia Bratlien and Krystal Pitkonen each tied for fourth place at the recent NWC Washington Fall Classic.