Bearcats Take Sixth Place in Team Standings at 613
WALLA WALLA. WASH. -- Ryan Kukula (So., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) from Willamette University finished in seventh place at the Whitman Invitational with a 36-hole total of even-par 144 (70-74), as the two-day tournament concluded on Monday, Oct. 1. Kukula was one stroke out of sixth place, two strokes out of a tie for third, and just three strokes out of second place.
The team champion was Whitworth University with a score of even-par 576 (287-289) for a 10-stroke victory. University of Puget Sound placed second with an overall score of 586 (293-293). Pacific Lutheran University (292-299) and Whitman College tied for third place at 591, while Linfield College took fifth place at 592 (297-295).
Willamette completed the tournament in sixth place in the standings at 613 (304-309). George Fox University finished seventh at 639 (313-326. Lewis & Clark College placed eighth at 662 (338-324).
Winning the individual title was Lyle Rudnicki from Whitworth with a score of 6-under-par 138 (69-69). He won by three strokes over Chris Lumdsen of George Fox University, who took second place at 141 (70-71).
Three golfers tied for third place at 142. They were Adam Bean of Puget Sound (76-69), Geoff Burks of Whitman (75-67) and Dustin Hegge from Pacific Lutheran (69-73). Hegge was tied with Lyle Rudnicki for the lead after the first round.
Derek Wilson from Puget Sound was sixth with a two-day total of 143 (72-71). Kukula's score of 144 earned him seventh place by a single stroke over Justin Lee of PLU (70-75) and Oliver Rudnicki of Whitworth (70-75), who tied for eighth at 145.
Kukula was one of six golfers competing for Willamette. Jeffrey Lewis (So., Eugene, OR/Sheldon HS) and Cody Plofker (So., Montclair, NJ/Montclair HS) each carded a total of 155. Lewis shot 80-75, while Plofker shot 74-81. Evan Fleming (Fr.) totaled 161 (82-79) during the tournament. Steven Rodriguez (Fr.) finished at 162 (80-82). Jacob Simonson (Jr., Fairview, OR/Reynolds HS) shot 179 (87-92).
Willamette's next action will be at the PLU Invitational on Oct. 14-15. Pacific Lutheran will host the meet at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash.RESULTS
Whitman Invitational
September 30-October 1, 2012
At Wine Valley Golf Club
Walla Walla, Wash.
Ryan Kukula carded 70-74-144 to take seventh place at the Whitman Invitational.
