Bearcats are Fifth in Team Standings at 314
BREMERTON, WASH. -- Ryan Kukula (So.,Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) of Willamette University shot a 1-under-par 71 in the first round of the Northwest Conference Spring Classic in men's golf to take a one-shot lead after 18 holes at the Gold Mountain Golf Course on Saturday, April 6. The tournament will conclude with the final 18 holes on Sunday, April 7.
Kukula gained a slight edge on Joey DeGroff and Jesse Salzwedel, both from Whitworth University, who were tied for second place at 72. Seth Nickerson of Pacific Lutheran University, Ryan Nolan from Linfield College and Oliver Rudnicki from Whitworth were tied for fourth place at 73. A total of 43 golfers competed in the first round.
Whitworth topped the team standings with a score of 291. The Pirates held a 12-stroke lead over Pacific Lutheran in second at 303. Linfield was third with a score of 306, while the University of Puget Sound was fourth at 310 and Willamette was fifth at 314.
Whitman College ended the day in sixth place at 326 and Pacific University was seventh at 332. Lewis & Clark College followed in eighth place at 349 and George Fox University was ninth at 385.
Kukula provided a strong top score for the Bearcats. Evan Fleming (Fr., Park City, UT/Park City HS) and Jonathan Ross (So., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS) each shot an 80 for Willamette, while Collin Fuller (Fr., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS) finished the round with an 83. Jeffrey Lewis (So., Eugene, OR/Henry D. Sheldon HS) carded an 88.
Ryan Kukula moved into the lead in the NWC Spring Classic with a score of 71 in the first round.
