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

WOODBURN, ORE. -- Ryan Kukula (So., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) of Willamette University shot a 72 in the first round of the Northwest Conference Championship Tournament and concluded the day in a four-way tie for second place, just one stroke out of the lead.

Adam Ruben of Linfield shot a 1-under-par 71 to hold first place after the first 18 holes at the Oregon Golf Association (OGA) Golf Course on Saturday, April 20.

Led by Ruben's score at the top of the individual leaderboard, Linfield College built a two-stroke advantage in the team standings with a score of 295. Whitworth University was in second place at 297, while the University of Puget Sound was third at 304.

Whitman College followed in fourth place at 310, with Pacific Lutheran University in fifth place at 313. Willamette and Pacific University were tied for sixth place at 320. Lewis & Clark College was eighth at 322 and George Fox University was ninth at 353.

Joining Kukula in the tie for second place at 72 were Adam Bean from Puget Sound, Taylor Klopp of Linfield and Stephen Plopper from Whitworth. Geoff Burks of Whitman and Lyle Rudnicki of Whitworth tied for sixth place at 74.

Four golfers tied for eighth place, as each player carded a 75. The athletes sharing the tie were Joey DeGroff of Whitworth, Tim Livermore of Pacific Lutheran, A.J. Taylor of Linfield and Derek Wilson from Puget Sound.

A total of 10 golfers were within four strokes of Ruben and the lead. Overall, 24 of the 44 golfers shot 79 or lower.

Kukula was one of five athletes competing for Willamette. The team's second lowest score of the first round was registered by Steven Rodriguez (Fr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS), who carded a 79.

Jeffrey Lewis (So., Eugene, OR/Henry D. Sheldon HS) shot 84, Jonathan Ross (So., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS) registered an 85 and Collin Fuller (Fr., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS) finished with an 87.

The tournament will conclude with the second round on Sunday, April 21. Tee times in the men's competition will begin at 11 a.m. (PDT), with the final group starting at 12:52 p.m.