PORTLAND, Ore. – Linfield's Tyler Nelson (Sr., Spokane, Wash.) and Max Bonk of Pacific renewed their Northwest Conference rivalry Saturday during the opening round of action of the annual Fall Classic at wet and windy Heron Lakes Golf Course.

Though Bonk leads all golfers with his first-round score of 71, Nelson is on hot pursuit at 72, tied with Whitworth’s Christian Boudreau. Bonk won last season's NWC individual championship, edging Nelson for top honors.

The two-time NWC champion Wildcats, lead the team scoring with a combined score of 299. Results of the Fall Class count one fourth toward determining the 2010 team champion.

In addition to Nelson’s 71, Linfield got a 74 from Yutaro Sakamoto (Jr., Mountain View, Calif.), a 78 from Tony Kordosky (Sr., Milwaukie, Ore.) and 79 from Alex Fitch (Soph., Redmond, Ore.) to take a two-stroke lead over the Pacific Boxers.

Bonk, the defending NWC medalist, shot one under par to lead all golfers on the day. Ben Wright finished with a 75 to keep Pacific in contention with a 301.

After Boudreau’s 72, Whitworth’s next best score came from Cameron Whittle, who shot a 76 as the Bucs finished the day at 306. Puget Sound sits in fourth (309), Pacific Lutheran is fifth (311) and George Fox is sixth (323).

NEXT: The teams resume at 10 a.m. Sunday at Heron Lakes.