Kukula Selected for NCAA Division III PING All-West Region Team

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

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University senior Ryan Kukula (Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) has been named to the NCAA Division III PING All-West Region Team for the 2014-15 season by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). Kukula was one of 24 athletes from the West Coast and Texas selected for All-West Region honors.

Kukula was the only player from the Northwest Conference chosen All-West Region this year. He helped Willamette place third or higher in the team standings at all nine tournaments the Bearcats attended during the season, including first place at the Pacific Fall Opener and the NWC Tournament in late April. Willamette took second place in the overall NWC standings.

The GCAA and PING honored a total of 99 players on All-Region teams nationwide. The West Region's 24 selections led the way, with 15 players chosen in the Northeast, Southeast, Central, Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions.

NCAA Division III PING All-West Region

Ryan Kukula (Sr.) received All-West Region recognition for the second year in a row. He was named All-West Region on his way to Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2013-14.

Kukula placed first or second at four tournaments during the season, was in the top five a total of seven times, and finished in the top seven at eight of nine events. In addition, he was 15th out of 78 athletes at the prestigious West Cup, while leading the Bearcats to eighth place out of 15 teams.

In the three tournaments used to determine the NWC team champion, Kukula tied for second at the NWC Fall Classic, tied for fifth at the NWC Spring Classic and tied for fourth at the NWC Tournament. He was named First Team All-NWC for the third consecutive season. He was chosen NWC Player of the Year in 2012-13.

He won medalist honors at the Pacific Fall Opener with a score of 135. He shot a 71 in the first round and followed up with a career-low round of 64 over the final 18 holes. He tied for second at the GFU Culturame Classic with a score of 147 (71-76) and tied for second at the NWC Fall Classic at 148 (73-75), just one stroke out of first place.

Kukula also tied for second place at the Pioneer Invitational with a score of 73 this spring.

During the season, Kukula recorded an unadjusted stroke average of 73.94 over 17 rounds, including an impressive 71.67 stroke average in the fall semester. His career stroke average is 74.77 over 77 rounds. He won a total of eight individual tournament titles during his Willamette career.