McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Playing in the comfort zone of dry weather and on his home course, Linfield senior Alex Fitch continued his hot start to the 2011-12 golf season with a four-stroke victory at the Linfield Three-Way on Saturday.

Fitch fired a 3-under-par 69 over 18 holes to win the event by three strokes and spark his team to a six-stroke victory over runner-up Willamette.

With six golfers finishing among the top-10 individuals, the Wildcats shot a glossy 305 as a team. Willamette was second at 311 and Pacific was a distant third at 354.

Willamette’s Ryan Kukula was second with a 1-over 73. Linfield freshman Ryan Nolan (Soph., Tigard, Ore.) and sophomore A.J. Taylor (Jr., Kirkland, Wash.) shared third with Willamette’s Jonathan Ross, all at 77.

Competing as individuals, Linfield’s Taylor Klopp (Soph., Eugene, Ore.) and Tommy Schmitz (Jr., Gresham, Ore.) tied for sixth place at 78, one stroke better than the Wildcats’ Nick Orsborn.

COMING UP: Linfield heads to Heron Lakes Golf Course in north Portland to compete in the NWC Fall Classic, Oct. 22-23. The outcome of the Fall Classic counts 25 percent toward determining the 2011-12 NWC champion.