By Mark Colachico, Interim Assistant Athletics Communications Director

BANKS, ORE. -- After the first 18 holes of the season, the Willamette University mens golf team is seven strokes off the lead Saturday at the Pacific Fall Opener hosted by Pacific University of Oregon. The two-round tournament is being played at Quail Valley Golf Course west of Portland.

Peter Mitzel (So., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) sits in a two-way tie for the lead after carding an opening round score of even-par 70. The second-year Bearcat is tied with Whitworth's Austin Billeter with 18 holes remaining in the tournament.

Ryan Kukula (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Illwaco HS)and Clark Wilson (So., Ocean Park, WA/Illwaco HS) are both one stroke back of the co-leaders after posting identical scores of 1-over 71.

Rounding out the Bearcats'squad is Steven Rodriguez (Jr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) and Jonathan Ross (Sr., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS). Rodriguez rounded out Willamette's scoring quarter with an opening round of 11-over 81 that is good for a tie for 30th, while Ross sits in a tie for 33rd overall with an opening round score of 12-over 82.

Chase Lamothe (So., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS), who is competing for the Bearcats as an individual,sits in a five-way tie for 16th with a 6-over 76.

As a team, Willamette posted a combined team score of 13-over 293 and trailclubhouse leaders Whitworth (6-over 286). The remaining teams are George Fox (300), Lewis & Clark (304), Linfield's 'B' team (307), Linfield's 'A' team (309), Whitman (318), and tournament-host Pacific (333).

The second and final round will be played tomorrow - Sunday, Sept. 21 - beginning at 10 a.m. (PST) at Quail Valley Golf Course in Banks, Oregon.