Kukula Ties for 17th out of 60 Golfers at West Region Invitational

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

GEORGETOWN, TEXAS -- Ryan Kukula (Fr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) from Willamette University tied for 17th place out of 60 golfers with a 54-hole total of 235 at the West Region Invitational, which concluded on Tuesday, April 10 at the Berry Creek Country Club.

Willamette earned an overall score of 1,013 (346-333-334) over the three rounds of the tournament to finish ninth in the team standings. Southwestern University (Texas) won the team title with an overall score of 908 (302-301-305).

Kukula achieved his score of 235 by shooting 85 in the first round, 70 in the second round and 80 in the third round. His 70 in the second round tied for the second lowest 18-hole score during the event.

Jack Cersosimo from Concordia University (Texas) won the individual championship by shooting a combined score of 212 (73-70-69), including the low round of the tournament with a 69 on Tuesday. He won by nine strokes over Cameron Button from Southwestern, who finished at 221 (75-71-75).

Lewis Peters of Millsaps College (Miss.) took third place at 224 (71-74-79) and James Charles from Southwestern claimed fourth place at 225 (76-72-77). Fifth place went to Bryce Myburgh from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, who carded a 229 (72-76-81).

Southwestern's team score of 908 was good for a margin of victory of 19 strokes. Trinity University (Texas) ended the tournament in a tie for second place at 927 (313-308-306). Concordia University (Texas) also tied for second place at 927 (310-305-312).

Texas Lutheran University was fourth with a score of 934 (320-313-301), while Mary Hardin-Baylor (326-311-300) and Millsaps (309-313-315) tied for fifth at 937. LeTourneau University (Texas) was seventh at 941 (310-315-316), George Fox University was eighth at 980 (328-323-329), Willamette was ninth at 1,013 and the University of Dallas was 10th at 1,069 (343-352-374).

Kukula led a group of five golfers for the Bearcats. Cody Plofker (Fr., Montclair, NJ/Montclair HS) shot 253 with his best score in the third round as he carded 82-89-81. Jonathan Ross (Fr., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS) finished at 255 and also earned his best 18-hole score in the final round (87-87-81).

Jacob Simonson (So., Fairview, OR/Reynolds, OR) shot 271 (92-87-92) and Kyle Derby (So., Oakdale, CA/Oakdale HS) shot 304 (95-97-112).

Willamette will return to action on Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15 at the Willamette Invitational, which will be hosted by the Bearcats at Illahe Hills Country Club in Salem, Ore. Tee times are set to begin at 12 p.m. (PDT).