By Mark Colachico, Interim Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University mens golf team will look to defend its team title this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12, at the GFU Culturame Classic hosted by George Fox University. Tee times are scheduled for 12 p.m. (PDT) on Saturday and 8 a.m. (PDT) on Sunday.

The Bearcats won last year's five-team tournament by 31 strokes over Linfield College, as Willamette posted a combined team score of 12-over 588 (295-293) to better the Wildcats.

Ryan Kukula (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Illwaco HS) took home medalist honors last year with a 36-hole score of 1-under 143 (72-71), as he outlasted Bearcat teammate Clark Wilson (So., Ocean Park, WA/ Ilwaco HS) by two strokes following Wilson's 1-over 145 (73-72).

Chase Lamothe (So., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS), Jacob Armelino, and Jonathan Ross (Sr., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS) all finished in the Top 10 for the Bearcats, as Ross paced Willamette's 'B' squad.

Earlier this season, the Bearcats opened the fall campaign with a runner-up finish at the Pacific Fall Opener played at Quail Valley Golf Course in Banks. Willamette combined to shoot a two-day score of 24-over 584 (293-291) and finished eight strokes behind tournament champions Whitworth University.

Kukula took home his seventh individual title with an eight-stroke victory at the season-opener, as the fourth-year Bearcat posted a career-low six-under 64 in the final round en route to posting a combined 36-hole score of 5-under 135 (71-64).

Peter Mitzel (So., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) and Wilson also finished in the Top 10, as Mitzel was the co-leader after the first round before falling into a three-way tie for fourth overall with a two-day total of 5-over 145 (70-75). Wilson closed out the tournament in a three-way tie for seventh following a two-round total of 6-over 146 (71-75).

This weekend's tournament will be contested at The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club, which is a 6,514 yard, par 72 venue located west of Portland in Aloha, Oregon.

After this weekend, Willamette will turn its attention to the final tournament of the fall season on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25 and 26, at the Northwest Conference Fall Classic played at Chehalem Glenn Golf Course in Newberg, Oregon.