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

RIDGEFIELD, WASH. -- Ryan Kukula (So., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) shot a 74 and was the top Willamette University in the individual standings after the first day of the Northwest Conference Fall Classic in men's golf on Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Tri-Mountain Golf Course. Kukula was seventh overall and trailed the leader, Dustin Hegge from Pacific Lutheran University, by just three strokes.

Hegge shot a 1-under-par 71 to move into first place. Stephen Plopper from Whitworth University and Derek Wilson from the University of Puget Sound were tied for second at even par 72.

Aleks Gabrio of George Fox University, Joshua Mau from Pacific University and Jesse Salzwedel of Whitworth each shared part of a tie for fourth place at 73, with Kukula in seventh place just one stroke behind the trio.

Whitworth finished the day in first place among the nine NWC teams. The Pirates carded an overall score of 301 for a one-stroke lead over Puget Sound at 302. Pacific Lutheran held third place at 309, while George Fox was fourth at 315.

Linfield College was in fifth place with a score of 318, with Whitman College in sixth at 320, Willamette in seventh at 326, Lewis & Clark College in eighth at 333 and Pacific in ninth at 337.

Kukula was one of two Bearcats who registered scores in the 70s on Saturday. Jonathan Ross (So., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS) carded a 78 and was in 14th place.

Also competing for Willamette were Jeffrey Lewis (So., Eugene, OR/Sheldon HS), Jacob Simonson (Jr., Fairview, OR/Reynolds HS) and Evan Fleming (Fr., Park City, UT/Park City HS). Lewis finished the round with a score of 85. Simonson completed the 18 holes with an 89 and Fleming shot a 94.

Action in the NWC Fall Classic will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 28 with the second round of competition at Tri-Mountain.