Kukula Earns his Second 74 in a Row, Wins Pacific Invitational at 148

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

ALOHA, ORE. -- Ryan Kukula (So.,Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) of Willamette University achieved a 74 for the second consecutive day at The Reserve Vineyards Golf Club on Sunday, March 10 to win the individual title at the Pacific Invitational with a 36-hole score of 148.

Kukula won by one stroke over John-Michael Pilot of Warner Pacific College at 149, and finished two strokes in front of Taylor Klopp of Linfield College and Joey Ziogas of Corban University, who tied for third at 150.

It was Kukula's second individual championship of the academic year. He won medalist honors at the Northwest Conference Fall Classic this past October.

A trio of golfers -- Matt Kitto from the University of Puget Sound, Jared Lambert from Corban and A.J. Nelson from Warner Pacific -- tied for fifth place at 151. Kitto, who held first place after one round with a 71 on the first day, carded an 80 on Sunday. Lambert shot 74-77 and Nelson shot 78-73.

Linfield won the team title with a score of 612 (309-303), as the Wildcats edged past Corban for a one-stroke victory. The Warriors entered the day tied for a one-stroke lead, but finished at 613 (308-305) after losing two strokes to Linfield over the final 18 holes. Warner Pacific, which began the second round tied with Corban for first place, finished in third at 614 (308-306).

Puget Sound took fourth place at 624 (309-315), the Linfield "B" team was fifth at 640 (316-324), Willamette was sixth at 644 (326-318), Pacific University was seventh at 665 (329-336), and Lewis & Clark College was eighth at 683 (348-335).

Kukula was followed on Willamette's team scorecard by Jeffrey Lewis (So., Eugene, OR/Henry D. Sheldon HS), who shot 156 overall after improving from an 80 in the first round to a 76 in the second round. He tied for 13th out of 43 golfers who completed all 36 holes.

Steven Rodriguez (Fr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) of WU, who did not compete in the first round, contributed to the Bearcats' team score on the second day by carding an 82. Jonathan Ross (So., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS) finished at 172 (85-87) and Collin Fuller (Fr., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS) ended the tournament at 173 (87-86).

The Willamette men's golf team will not compete again until April 6-7, when the Bearcats will take to the links at the NWC Spring Classic in Bremerton, Wash. The 36-hole event will be held at the Gold Mountain Golf Course.