Bearcat Men's Golfers Ready for Challenge at Pioneer Invitational

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University will meet fellow Northwest Conference contenders Whitworth University and Pacific Lutheran University during the Pioneer Invitational in men's golf on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15. The tournament, which will be played on the Great Blue Course at Heron Lakes Golf Club in Portland, Ore., is being hosted by Lewis & Clark College.

Action is scheduled for two rounds, with 18 holes each day.

"We are playing a very challenging course at Heron Lakes," Willamette Head Coach Patrick Daugherty said. "Its going to be a great preview for the conference this spring. The top three teams from the Fall Classic -- Whitworth, Willamette and PLU -- will be there. For us, it's a chance to see how we stack up and to see were we are at this point in the spring."

Slated to golf for Willamette this weekend are Ryan Kukula (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS), Clark Wilson (So., Ocean Park, WA/ Ilwaco HS), Steven Rodriguez (Jr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS), Peter Mitzel (So., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) and Jonathan Ross (Sr., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS).

Playing as individuals for the Bearcats will be Joey Horowitz (Fr., Scottsdale, AZ/Chaparral HS), Collin Fuller (So., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS) and Stephan Bartz (Jr., San Francisco, CA/San Francisco Univ. HS).

"The guys have been putting in some really great work this spring," Daugherty commented. "Were very excited. Our guys are more ready at this time this year than they were last year, and thats just kudos to them for the work theyve put in."

It will be Willamette's second competition of the spring season. The Bearcats won the Willamette Cup against Linfield College and Pacific University on February 28 at Quail Valley Golf Course. The Bearcats recorded a team score of 301 two win by three strokes over Linfield. Wilson tied for first place with Taylor Klopp of Linfield at 73. Rodriguez placed third at 74, while Mitzel tied for fourth at 75.

After competing in Portland this weekend, the Bearcats will play at the West Cup in Los Angeles, Calif., on Monday, March 23 and Tuesday, March 24. Each year, the West Cup features some of the top golf teams in NCAA Division III.

Theyre really excited about it," Daugherty said about the upcoming event.