Kukula Named to All-West Region Team in Men's Golf

By John Lind, Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) released the honorees for the 2013 Division III PING All-Region Teams on Tuesday, May 14. Willamette's Ryan Kukula (So., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) was named to the PING All-West Region Team, adding yet another accomplishment to his already superb 2012-13 season.

The PING All-Region teams consisted of 81 total players honored over the six regions in Division III golf. Kukula was selected in the West Region, of which the Northwest Conference is a member. The Southeast Region led all regions with 17 players chosen, and no region had fewer than 12 players selected.

In the West Region, Kukula was one of 14 players to receive All-Region status. The only other NWC school represented was Whitworth University with golfers Jesse Salzwedel and Oliver Rudnicki named to the team. Whitworth won the 2013 NWC team championship.

Other schools represented on the All-West Region team were the University of Texas at Tyler, University of La Verne, University of Redlands, California Lutheran University, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Centenary College.

Based on the available records on the GCAA website, Kukula is the first male golfer from Willamette to ever be named to an All-West Region Team in the Division III era. Kukula carded a stellar year in 2012-13 for the Bearcats, taking NWC Golfer of the Year honors after winning the NWC Fall Classic and the NWC Spring Classic, and finishing in second at the NWC Championship Tournament.

On top of those victories, Kukula also won the Pacific Spring Invitational. He never finished lower than second in a tournament during the spring season. Following the NWC Championship Tournament, Kukula was one of six golfers in the conference selected First Team All-NWC.