SPOKANE, Wash.  Whitman's men's golf team kept within striking distance of the team immediately ahead of them in the Northwest Conference Spring Classic, but after Day 2's concluding Sunday round the Blues fell four shots shy and ended the weekend with an eighth-place finish.

Whitman (330-331—661) chased Pacific (Ore.) University (324-333—657) throughout Sunday's second 18 of the two-day tournament at the par-72, 6,865-yard Hangman Valley Golf Course but were unable to overcome the six-stroke deficit following Saturday's opening round.

Mario Santos-Davidson cracked the top 20 of the individual leaderboard, finishing 18th with a 12-over par 156 (80-76). The senior posted a pair of 38s Sunday with a birdie in each half to pace the Blues.

Also posting even numbers across his front and back nine Sunday was Jimmy Jacobson (81-84—165, +21). The sophomore parred four holes on his opening 42 and five on his back-end 42 to end the Classic tied for 29th place.

Recovering three strokes from his opening round Saturday was Will Selman (86-83—169, +25). The senior penciled in eight pars in his final round to claim a tie for 32nd.

Both Luc Birchfield (37th, 85-88—173) and Eric Wasserman (40th, 84-92—176) found Sunday's round more troublesome than how they opened on Saturday.

Pacific Lutheran University (299-299—598, +11) broke free from a late tie Sunday to claim the Spring Classic team trophy, finishing two strokes up on Whitworth University (299-301—600, +13). The Lutes were even par over the final three holes while the Pirates closed at 3-over -- despite capturing individual medalist honors with Keegan Loo's one-stroke victory.

Loo posted a 2-under 142 (71-71) to best George Fox University's Alex Plusquellec (73-70—143, -1) in the final results.

Whitman will participate in the Willamette (Univ.) Spring Thaw at the Pronghorn Golf Course in Bend, Oregon, on April 14-15 before closing out its season at the NWC Championship on April 21-22.