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

MURRIETA, CALIF. -- Ryan Kukula (Jr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) from Willamette University carded a 74 in the first round of the 2014 West Cup on Monday, March 25 and was tied for eighth place in the individual standings at the Bear Creek Golf Club. Willamette was tied for 10th place in the team standings.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and the University of Redlands were tied for the team lead after the first round at 297. Whitworth University was third at 303 and the University of La Verne (Calif.), the tournament host, was fourth at 305.

California Lutheran University owned fifth place at 310, while Christopher Newport University (Va.) was sixth at 311. Occidental College (Calif.) was tied for seventh with Southwestern University (Texas), with both teams at 312. Pacific Lutheran University was ninth at 316, while Willamette and Trinity University (Texas) were tied for 10th at 319.

Also competing were: Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) and Chapman University (Calif.) were tied for 12th at 320, Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) was 14th at 329, with Lewis & Clark College in 15th at 331, Linfield College in 16th at 335, Whittier College (Calif.) in 17th at 339, and Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) in 18th at 342.

Justin Beck of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps was in first place on the individual leaderboard with a 3-under-par 69. He owned a two-stroke lead over three golfers tied for second place. The trio tied for second at 71 were Bobby Holden from Redlands, Matt DiSalvo from Christopher Newport and John McCord from Redlands.

Three other golfers were tied for fifth. Kelby Scharmann from La Verne, Kethan Reddy from CMS and Kevin Holliday from La Verne each shot a 1-over 73.

Joining Kukula in a four-way tie for eighth at 73 were fellow Northwest Conference golfers Stephen Plopper from Whitworth and Seth Nickerson from Pacific Lutheran, along with Ben Ho from CMS. A total of 94 golfers are participating in the tournament.

Rounding out Willamette's team were Clark Wilson (Fr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS), Steven Rodriguez (So., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS), Chase Lamothe (Fr., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS) and Peter Mitzel (Fr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS). Wilson and Rodriguez each shot 81, while Lamothe carded an 83 and Mitzel recorded an 84.

The second round was started on Monday, but not all teams were able to complete the round before darkness. Action will continue on Tuesday, March 25 with the conclusion of the second round, followed by the final round of the tournament.