By Mark Colachico, Interim Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University mens golf team hits the links for the first time this season on Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 20 & 21, at the Pacific Invitational hosted by Pacific University of Oregon. Tee times are set for 11 a.m. (PST) on Saturday and 10 a.m. (PST) on Sunday.

Second-year Head Coach Patrick Daugherty moved into the role of head coach last season and he hopes to lead the Bearcats to new heights within NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference.

Ryan Kukula (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Illwaco HS) returns for his fourth and final season as a Bearcat after picking up his second straight First Team All-Northwest Conference award following a third place finish at the season-ending NWC Tournament at OGA Golf Course in Woodburn last year.

As a junior, Kukula averaged 74.2 strokes per round and took home medalist honors three times at the Culturame Golf Classic (72-71=143), the Northwest Conference Fall Classic (67-76=143), and the Willamette Spring Thaw (67-69=136).

Joining Kukula at the top of the roster are a pair of second-year players Peter Mitzel (So., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) and Clark Wilson (So., Ocean Park, WA/Illwaco HS). Both Mitzel and Wilson earned Second Team All-Northwest Conference honors last season.

This weekend's tournament will be contested at Quail Valley Golf Club, which is a 6,628 yard, par 72 venue located west of Portland in Banks, Oregon.

The Bearcats enter the two-round event as the defending champions after carding a combined team total of 23-over 599 (295-304) last year, as Kukula finished second individually with a 36-hole score of even-par 144 (70-74) to lead the way for Willamette.

After this weekend, Willamette will take a few weeks off before return to action on Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 11 & 12, at the George Fox Culturame Classic played at The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha, Oregon.