Kukula Shoots 74, Trails Leader by Three Strokes at Pacific Invitational

By John Lind and Robert McKinney

ALOHA, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's golf team took part in the first day of the Pacific Invitational on Saturday, March 9 at The Reserve Vineyards Golf Club. The Bearcats currently sit in sixth place with a score of 326. Corban University and Warner Pacific College are tied for the lead with team scores of 308.

Ryan Kukula (So.,Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) carded a score of 74 on Saturday and was tied for third place, only three shots off the lead of Matt Kitto from the University of Puget Sound. Kito shot a 1-under-par 71.

Following Kitto on the leaderboard was Andrew Johnson of Warner Pacific, who was second with an even-par 72. Kukula was tied for third with Jared Lambert from Corban. they both held a one-shot lead over a two-way tie for fifth place between Joshua Mau of Pacific University and A.J. Taylor from Linfield College, who each carded a 75.

Jeffrey Lewis (So.,Eugene, OR/Henry D. Sheldon HS) was the next best finisher for Willamette. He carded an 80 and was tied for 20th place. Jonathan Ross (So., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS) shot an 85 for the Bearcats, while Collin Fuller (Fr., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS) of WU achieved an 87.

The score of 308 registered by Corban and Warner Pacific gave both teams a slim 1-stroke lead over Linfield and Puget Sound, as the Wildcats and the Loggers each shot 309. Linfield's "B" team was fifth at 316, with Willamette in sixth at 326, Pacific in seventh at 329 and Lewis & Clark College in eighth at 348.

The final round will be held on Sunday, March 10 at The Reserve Vineyards Golf Club.