Kukula Wins NWC Spring Classic after Second Round is Canceled

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

BREMERTON, WASH. -- Ryan Kukula (So.,Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) of Willamette University won the Northwest Conference Spring Classic individual title with his 1-under-par 71 in the first round after the second round was canceled due to the weather and course conditions on Sunday, April 7 at the Gold Mountain Golf Course.

Kukula also won the NWC Fall Classic in late October when he shot a 36-hole total of 2-under-par 142 at the Tri-Mountain Golf Course in Ridgefield, Wash.

At the Spring Classic, Kukula's 71 on Saturday ultimately earned him the win by one stroke over Whitworth University golfers Joey DeGroff and Jesse Salzwedel, who tied for second at 72. Seth Nickerson of Pacific Lutheran University, Ryan Nolan from Linfield College and Oliver Rudnicki from Whitworth tied for fourth place at 73.

Whitworth earned the team title with a score of 291. The Pirates won by 12 strokes over Pacific Lutheran in second at 303. Linfield was third at 306, with the University of Puget Sound in fourth at 310 and Willamette in fifth at 314.

Whitman College placed sixth at 326, Pacific University was seventh at 332, Lewis & Clark College was eighth at 349 and George Fox University finished ninth at 385.

The NWC Spring Classic counts for one-fourth of the overall NWC men's golf title. The NWC Fall Classic also counts for one-fourth, while the NWC Championship Tournament, which Willamette will host at the Oregon Golf Association (OGA) course on April 20-21, is worth one-half.

Before hosting the NWC Championship Tournament the Bearcats will compete at the Willamette Cup, set for April 14 at Quail Valley Golf Course in Banks, Ore.