Kukula Finishes 10th for Bearcats at 2014 West Cup

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

MURRIETA, CALIF. -- Willamette University's Ryan Kukula (Jr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) rebounded from an 80 in the second round to achieve a 74 in the third round and finish 10th at the 2014 West Cup with a score of 228, as the tournament concluded on Tuesday, March 25. Kukula, who also shot a 74 in the first round, was just four strokes out of third place in the final standings.

The Bearcats placed 10th in the team standings. WU registered its lowest score of the tournament (312) during the third round. It was the fifth best team score over the final 18 holes.

University of Redlands (Calif.) won the team title with a score of 904 (297-294-313). Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) claimed second place at 912 (297-307-308), eight strokes behind the Bulldogs. University of La Verne (Calif.) took third place at 913 (305-300-308).

Southwestern University (Texas) was fourth at 923 (312-305-306) and California Lutheran University placed fifth at 931 (310-302-319). Sixth place went to Trinity University (Texas) at 932 (319-311-302), after the Tigers made up 17 of 18 strokes in the final round to almost catch CLU.

Christopher Newport University (Va.) took seventh at 940 (311-311-318), while Pacific Lutheran University was eighth at 946 (316-314-316) and Chapman University was ninth one stroke back at 947 (320-310-317). Willamette was 10th with a score of 963 (319-332-312).

Other teams were: Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) in 11th place at 970 (320-321-329), Occidental College (Calif.) in 12th at 972 (313-333-327), Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) in 13th at 979 (329-335-315), Linfield College in 14th at 996 (335-332-329), Lewis & Clark College in 15th at 998 (331-338-329), Pomona-Pitzer in 16th at 1,014 (342-331-341) and Whittier College (Calif.) in 17th at 1,020 (339-340-341). Whitworth University only played the first and third rounds, and did not record a team score.

Bobby Holden from Redlands grabbed the individual title with a 54-hole total of 1-under-par 215. Holden carded a 71 in the first round, a 69 in the second round and a 75 in the third round.

Justin Beck of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps was second overall at 3-over par 219 (69-78-72). His 69 in the first round matched Holden's second-round score for the lowest round of the tournament, and his 72 was the lowest score of the third round.

Matt DiSalvo of Christopher Newport and Keven Holliday of La Verne tied for third place at 224. DiSalvo shot 71-73-80 and Holliday shot 73-74-77.

Fifth place was a tie between Jordan Cowart from Southwestern (75-75-75) and John McCord from Redlands (71-75-79), both at 225 overall. Bryan Wise of Chapman was seventh at 226 (75-76-75). Kelby Scharmann (73-73-81) and Paul Gomez (75-74-78), each from La Verne, tied for eighth at 227.

Kukula's total of 228 placed him alone in 10th place. His score of 74 in the third round was beaten by only three golfers, as he tied with two others for the fourth-best score of the day. A total of 94 golfers competed during the tournament.

Willamette's team score included at least one round from all five golfers participating for the Bearcats. Joining Kukula were Clark Wilson (Fr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS), Peter Mitzel (Fr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS), Steven Rodriguez (So., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) and Chase Lamothe (Fr., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS).

Wilson finished with an overall score of 241 (81-83-77). Mitzel provided a score of 247 (84-85-78), while Rodriguez shot 248 (81-84-83). Lamothe concluded the tournament at 253 (83-87-83). Three Bearcats shot in the 70s on Tuesday, with Kukula at 74, Wilson at 77 and Mitzel at 78.

The next event for Willamette is scheduled to be the NWC Spring Classic on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6. The tournament will be played at Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick, Wash.