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

BEND, ORE. -- Ryan Kukula (Jr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) of Willamette University shot rounds of 5-under and 3-under at the Willamette Spring Thaw in men's golf to win the individual title with a score of 136, at the Broken Top Club in Bend, Ore., on Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13. In addition to earning medalist honors, Kukula helped Willamette win the team title.

Kukula opened the tournament with a 67 in the first round on Saturday, as he built a 4-stroke lead. On Sunday, he added a 69 to finish 8-under par and win the tournament by nine strokes. Zach Mode from Corban University took second place at 145 (71-74).

Willamette achieved its best 36-hole score of the season with a total of 584 (290-294). The Bearcats claimed the team championship by 16 strokes over Corban. The Warriors were second with a score of 600 (299-301).

Linfield College placed third at 615 (310-305), with Whitman College in fourth at 626 (307-319). The Wildcats trailed the Missionaries after the first round, but surged in front by 11 strokes with a strong second day.

Pacific University finished fifth at 640 (320-320), one stroke in front of Lewis & Clark College, which took sixth at 641 (325-316). George Fox University placed seventh at 678 (336-342). Trinity Lutheran College did not field a full team.

Kukula and Mode held the top two places among 41 golfers competing at the tournament.

One of Kukula's Willamette teammates, Jonathan Ross (Jr., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS), placed third at 146 with two rounds of 73. Jared Lambert from Corban and Steven Rodriguez (So., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) from Willamette tied for fourth at 149. Lambert shot 73-76, while Rodriguez shot 74-75.

Two more Willamette players tied each other for sixth place at 150. Chase Lamothe (Fr., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS) carded 75-75 and Peter Mitzel (Fr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) shot 74-76.

Four golfers tied for eighth place at 152. They were Kyle Hargrave (77-75) and Taylor Klopp (78-74) from Linfield, Scott Martin (74-78) from Whitman and Joshua Mau (77-75) from Pacific.

Clark Wilson (Fr., Ocean Park, WA/ Ilwaco HS) of Willamette tied for 12th place at 153 (78-75). Stephan Bartz (So., San Francisco, CA/San Francisco University HS) also competed for the Bearcats and shot 178 (89-89).

The Bearcats will host another tournament this weekend, as they take on Linfield and Pacific at the Oregon Golf Association Golf Course in Woodburn, Ore. Action in the Willamette Cup will stat at 10 a.m. (PDT).