Bearcats Tie for Second Place at Willamette Spring Thaw

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

BEND, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team tied for second place at the Willamette Spring Thaw, as the tournament ended on Sunday, April 19 at Broken Top Club. Linfield College took first place. George Fox University tied with the Bearcats for second. Ryan Kukula (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) of Willamette placed fifth in the individual standings.

Linfield's overall score was 585. The Wildcats shot a 1-over-par 289 in the first round on Saturday and carded a 296 in the second round. Willamette and George Fox each shot 620. The Bearcats earned 310 each day, while the Bruins improved from 320 in the first round to 300 on Sunday. Pacific University was fourth at 675 (335-340). Lewis & Clark College did not field a full team.

Medalist recognition went to Kevin Kawasaki of Linfield, who maintained the lead after moving in front on Saturday. He carded a 36-hole score of 142 (69-73). Logan Davis of Linfield was second at 144 (73-71) and Andrew Grove from George Fox was third at 147 (78-69).

Kawasaki's 69 in the first round and Grove's 69 in the second round tied for the low 18-hole score.

Fourth place went to Taylor Klopp of Linfield, who shot 148 (75-73). Kukula was fifth with a total of 149 strokes, as he shot 74 in the first round and 75 in the second round.

Logan Munson from Linfield was sixth at 151 (72-79), Lucas Balala of Linfield was seventh at 153 (78-75) and Zachary Mode of GFU was eighth at 154 (79-75). Peter Mitzel (So., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) of Willamette and Drew Groshong from Lewis & Clark tied for ninth at 155. Mitzel carded 77-78, while Groshong shot 76-79.

Collin Fuller (So., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS) of Willamette placed 11th at 157 (79-78), while teammate Clark Wilson (So., Ocean Park, WA/ Ilwaco HS) finished 12th at 158 (79-79).

Other Willamette golfers participating at the Willamette Spring Thaw were Steven Rodriguez (Jr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS), Jonathan Ross (Sr., Tukwila, WA/Foster HS) and Stephan Bartz (Jr., San Francisco, CA/San Francisco Univ. HS). Rodriguez (81-78) and Ross (80-79) each tied for 13th place, along with Caleb An of George Fox (81-78), at 159. Bartz shot 167 (80-87).

The teams were limited to five scoring golfers, so Fuller and Bartz competed as individuals.

Willamette will return to action on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 at the 2015 Northwest Conference Tournament. The 36-hole event will be held at Crosswater Golf Course in Sun River, Oregon.