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

WOODBURN, ORE. -- Willamette University golfer Ryan Kukula (Jr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) shot a 72, and teammate Peter Mitzel (Fr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) shot a 73, to hold second place and a tie for third place, respectively, after one round of the 36-hole Northwest Conference Tournament on Saturday, April 26. Willamette was second in the team standings behind Pacific Lutheran University.

Dustin Hegge of PLU led the medalist competition with a 1-under-par 71. Kukula trailed Hegge by just one stroke, with Mitzel only two strokes off the pace. Mitzel was tied for third with Jesse Salzwedel from Whitworth University, who also shot a 73.

Logan Munson of Linfield College and Seth Nickerson of PLU were tied for fifth place after each carded a 74. A four-way tie for seventh featured Adam Bean from the University of Puget Sound and A.J. Taylor from Linfield, plus Pacific Lutheran golfers Justin Lee and Tim Livermore, all at 76.

Pacific Lutheran gained the team lead with a score of 297. Willamette was seven strokes back at 304.

The next three places were very close, with Whitworth in third at 313, Puget Sound in fourth at 314, and Linfield in fifth at 315. Pacific University held sixth place at 322, while Lewis & Clark College and Whitman College were tied for seventh at 327. George Fox University was ninth at 337.

Kukula and Mitzel were the top finishers on Willamette's five-man entry. Jonathan Ross (Jr., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS) carded a 79 and was tied for 15th. Steven Rodriguez (So., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) and Clark Wilson (Fr., Ocean Park, WA/ Ilwaco HS) each shot an 80 and were tied for 19th. A total of 43 golfers are competing this weekend.

The NWC Tournament is being played at the Oregon Golf Association Golf Course with a distance of 6,501 yards. The second round of play will complete the tournament on Sunday, April 27. Tee times begin at 9 a.m. (PDT), with the Bearcat golfers scheduled to start between 10:20 a.m. and 10:52 a.m.