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

WALLA WALLA. WASH. -- Willamette University's Ryan Kukula (So., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) is tied for third place on the leaderboard with a 2-under-par 70 after the first day of the Whitman Invitational in men's golf on Sunday, Sept. 30 at the Wine Valley Golf Club. The tournament will conclude with the second round on Monday, Oct. 1.

Kukula is one stroke off the pace set by Dustin Hegge of Pacific Lutheran University and Lyle Rudnicki from Whitworth University, who are tied for the lead after carding 69s. Joining Kukula in third place with a 70 are Justin Lee form Pacific Lutheran, Chris Lumsden from George Fox University Oliver Rudnicki of Whitworth.

There is a three-way tie for seventh at even-par 72 between Evan Dyer of Whitman, A.J. Taylor of Linfield College and Derek Wilson from the University of Puget Sound.

Whitworth registered the top team score of the first round with a 1-under-par 287. Pacific Lutheran earned a score of 292 to claim second place in the standings, while Puget Sound was one stroke behind PLU in third place at 293. Linfield was fourth at 297 and Whitman was fifth at 299. The Bearcats were listed in sixth place on the team standings with a 304.

George Fox University was seventh at 313. Lewis & Clark College held eighth place at 338.

Kukula was followed on the Willamette scoring chart by Cody Plofker (So., Montclair, NJ/Montclair HS), who achieved a 74 in the first round to tie for 12th place. Jeffrey Lewis (So., Eugene, OR/Sheldon HS) and Steven Rodriguez (Fr.) each shot an 80. Evan Fleming (Fr.) ended the round with an 82. Jacob Simonson (Jr., Fairview, OR/Reynolds HS) shot an 87.