Colorado State University Athletics
Rams golfers earn No. 6 seed in NCAA regional
5/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 4, 2009
By Danny Mattie
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado State men's golf team, which tied a school record with five tournament victories in 2008-09, will have a chance to continue its outstanding season May 14-16, earning an at-large bid to compete in the NCAA regional tournament at the Galloway National Golf Club in Galloway, N.J. The NCAA made the announcement Monday afternoon.
The Rams enter the regional, hosted by Columbia University, as the No. 6 seed, the highest seed ever attained in the program's 19-year history. The bid marks Colorado State's 13th appearance in the NCAA regional since 1996 and the ninth berth in 10 seasons under the guidance of Head Coach Jamie Bermel.
"We have played outstanding golf throughout the season and that shows in our bid and strong seed in the regional tournament," said Bermel. "There are a lot of great teams competing for a chance to play in the national tournament, but we feel that our squad is capable of competing with the best programs in the country and look forward to seeing what we can do in the field."
Colorado State will join 14 other teams and five individual golfers to compete for a place in the 2009 NCAA men's golf championships slated for May 26-30 at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, hosted by the University of Toledo.
Teams who place in the top five in each region, plus the low individual not on an advancing team, will earn a spot in the national tournament.
Colorado State is one of five Mountain West Conference teams entered in the six regionals, joining 2009 champion TCU (No. 3 seed; Stillwater, Okla.), San Diego State (No. 4 seed; Daly City, Calif.), UNLV (No. 5 seed; Austin, Texas), and New Mexico (No. 7 seed; Daly City, Calif.).
Last season, CSU finished tied for 23rd at the 27-team East Regional in Chattanooga, Tenn., and five players on CSU's roster returned this season with NCAA regional experience.
Senior Zen Brown and junior Dustin Morris, 2009 all-MWC selections, will each be playing in their third consecutive NCAA regionals, along with juniors Bryce Hanstad and Riley Arp. Morris (T-18) was the Rams' top finisher in 2006-07, while Arp paced the Rams in a tie for 58th last season.
In addition to the Rams' five team titles in 2008-09, three Colorado State golfers also captured individual honors. Morris, the league leader in stroke average (71.21), Hanstad and freshman Zahkai Brown each captured first-place finishes this season.
Clemson is the top seed in the Rams' regional, followed by Alabama, Illinois, Tennessee and Wake Forest, rounding out the top five. The teams will play 54 holes over three days in the regional competition.
NCAA regional
Galloway National Golf Club - Galloway, New Jersey
Hosted by Columbia University
Teams (seeded in the following order):
1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Illinois (Big Ten Conference)
4. Tennessee
5. Wake Forest
6. Colorado State
7. Kent State (Mid-American Conference)
8. Coastal Carolina (Big South Conference)
9. Virginia
10. Penn State
11. Minnesota
12. VCU (Colonial Athletic Association)
13. Columbia (Ivy Group)
14. Sacred Heart (Northeast Conference)
Individuals:
1. Kevin O'Connell, North Carolina
2. Dan Woltman, Wisconsin
3. Robert Karlsson, Liberty
4. Peter Williamson, Dartmouth
5. Eric Hawerchak, Central Connecticut
