RICHLAND, Wash. – Linfield took a six-stroke lead over Northwest Conference rival Whitworth after first round action in the NWC Championships Friday at Canyon Lakes Golf Course. The seven competing teams are separated by a mere 19 strokes.

Alex Fitch of Linfield has the overall lead after 18 holes with a score of 70, leading the rest of the field by two strokes.

Defending champion Max Bonk of Pacific and Greg Kirkpatrick of Puget Sound are tied for second, both at 72.

Linfield’s Yutaro Sakamoto and Josh Kay helped the Wildcats take the first-round lead. Sakamoto holds fifth place with an opening-round total of 74. Kay finished in a tie for seventh at 77.

A.J Taylor rounded out the top-four scorers for Linfield. He finished the day at 80, good for a tie for 20th.