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

BEND, ORE. -- Ryan Kukula (Jr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) surged into a four-stroke lead by shooting a 5-under-par 67 in the first round of the Willamette Spring Thaw at Broken Top Golf Club on Saturday, April 12. Kukula's exceptional round helped the Bearcats build a nine-shot lead in the team standings.

Willamette carded a team score of 290. Corban University held second place at 299, with Whitman College in third at 307. Linfield College was in fourth at 310, Pacific University was fifth at 320, Lewis & Clark College was sixth at at 325 and George Fox University was seventh at 336.

Kukula was one of two golfers to break par in the first round. Zach Mode of Corban was in second place after shooting a 1-under 71. Tied for third at 73 were Jonathan Ross (Jr., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS) of Willamette and Jared Lambert from Corban.

Steven Rodriguez (So., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) and Peter Mitzel (Fr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS), both from WU, were tied for fifth at 74. Also shooting a 74 was Scott Martin of Whitman.

Also competing for Willamette were Chase Lamothe (Fr., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS), Clark Wilson (Fr., Ocean Park, WA/ Ilwaco HS) and Stephan Bartz (So., San Francisco, CA/San Francisco University High). Lamothe was tied for eighth at 75. Wilson earned a 78, while Bartz shot 89.

The final round of the tournament will be held at Broken Top on Sunday, April 13. A shotgun start with begin the action at 10 a.m. (PDT).