UW Men Heading To Tucson For NCAA Regional
May 16, 2011
Complete Release, Stats and Records in PDF Format 
SEATTLE -- The Huskies are heading to their 16th-consecutive NCAA Golf Championship Regional after they were announced as the No. 6 seed in Tucson, Ariz. regional to be held at Omni Tucson National Golf Resort from May 19-21. The top five teams and an individual not on an advancing squad from each of six regions move on to the NCAA Championship at Oklahoma State's Karsten Course in Stillwater, Okla. The Huskies will be paired with No. 4 California and No. 5 Liberty in the first round and will tee off from the 10th hole starting at 8:20 a.m. In all, 14 teams are playing in Tucson.
HUSKY LINEUP
Husky Coach Matt Thurmond is going with a veteran lineup at the NCAA West Regional, but it will led by a pair of youngsters. Sophomores Chris Williams and Charlie Hughes are the headliners for the Dawgs on the course. Williams was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection, while Hughes earned second-team recognition and both played during the 2010 NCAA's for Thurmond. The lineup will also consist of seniors Tze Huang Choo and Kevin Spooner, plus junior Jens Bracht. Choo was in the lineup during the 2008 and 2009 NCAA's, but Spooner and Bracht will be making their post-season debuts.
THE PLAYERS
Jens Bracht, Junior
• Has played in three events this season, all during the fall.
• Tied for 16th at the Kikkor Golf Invitational, shooting a 1-over 217. It was his second-best collegiate score.
• Career best third-place finish came in his UW debut, the Husky Invite in Sept. of 2008.
• Stroke average of 74.66 ranks fourth on the team.
• Shot a career-low 69 three times, including twice during the Kikkor Golf Husky Invitational.
• Regarded as one of the best athletes on the team. He follows a rigorous crossfit program and is training to run a 50 kilometer race.
• Business major that sports a 3.47 gpa.
Tze Huang Choo, Senior
• Took fall off from the UW to represent Singapore in the Asian Games and play in other events as an amateur.
• Competed in seven spring events for UW with a season-best 25th place at the Pac-10 Championship.
• Singapore's top ranked player since 2004.
• Stroke average of 74.55 ranks third on the team.
• Shot a season-best 4-under 68 in the second round of the Amer Ari Invitational.
• Career-low 200 at the U.S. Intercollegiate.
• Played on the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Championship team.
• 2009 honorable mention All-Pac-10.
Charlie Hughes, Sophomore
• Ranked 59th by Golfweek, 96th by Golfstat.
• 2011 Second Team All-Pac-10.
• One of two Canadians (Kevin Spooner) on the team.
• Earned first career win at the Bandon Dunes Invitational, beating second-place finisher and teammate Chris Williams by six strokes.
• Second on team with 72.19 stroke average, which is tied for 9th best during a season in UW history.
• Five top-10 finishes this season.
• Has finished first or second among Huskies in nine of 12 events.
• Career-best round of 66 in the second round of the Prestige at PGA West. Led after 36 holes, but ended up 4th.
• Excellent student sporting 3.62 gpa and was just admitted into UW's highly competitive School of Business.
Kevin Spooner, Senior
• Serving as the UW team captain.
• One of two Canadians (Charlie Hughes) and hails from British Columbia where the Huskies have traditionally recruited successfully (Nick Taylor, Darren Wallace).
• Making first career NCAA appearance, but played on UW's 2010 Pac-10 Champion team.
• Played in 8 events and has finished third among Huskies in three of those tournaments.
• Career best finish came at Bandon Dunes, tying for 16th at +7.
• Shot a season-low 69 in the final round of the Kikkor Golf Husky Invitational.
• Finance major (3.69 gpa) has made the Dean's List in all but one quarter while studying at Washington.
Chris Williams, Sophomore
• Ranked 22nd Golfweek, 27th by Golfstat, 23rd by WAGR, 39th by Scratch Players Golf.
• 2011 1st Team All-Pac-10, 2011 Palmer Cup Team, 2010 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, 2010 2nd Team All-Pac-10, 2010 Phil Mickelson Award winner (NCAA's top freshman).
• Has 13 top-10 finishes, which equals the fourth most in UW history.
• Finished first or second among Huskies in 17 of 21 team tournaments.
• Won Oregon Duck Invitational, the third victory of his career (tied for 2nd most in UW history).
• Scoring average of 71.20 is the fifth best in UW history.
• Pac-10's Golfer of the Month in March.
• Best round of 8-under 63 in the 2010 Pac-10 Championship equals the best-ever third-round score in a tournament by a Husky.
THE COACH
Matt Thurmond Highlights
• UW has advanced to the NCAA Championship all but once under Thurmond.
• Players have earned All-America honors 10 times under his tutelage.
• 2009 Palmer Cup coach.
• Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2009.
• Coached Ben Hogan Award winner (Nick Taylor, 2010) and Phil Mickelson Award winner (Chris Williams, 2010).
• Three Pac-10 Championships, 2010 NCAA Regional title.
HUSKIES IN THE RANKINGS
Washington is ranked 30th in the Golfweek.com/Sagarin rankings, 31st by Golfstat.com and 31st by Golfworld/NIKE. Individually, Chris Williams is ranked 22nd by Golfweek.com and 27th by Golfstat.com. Charlie Hughes is 59th according to Golfweek.com and 96th by Golfstat.com
THE COURSE
Omni Tucson National Golf Resort will play host to the 2011 NCAA Men's Regional. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, the course has played host to countless PGA Tour and NCAA events. The course has a rating of 75.4 and slope of 136. Omni Tucson National is a par-71 track and is 7,199 yards.
LIVE COVERAGE
Live scoring also will be available on the internet at www.golfstat.com. Tournament recaps, results and post-round notes and quotes also can be found at www.arizonawildcats.com and www.gohuskies.com.
THE FIELD
Teams (Golfstat.com ranking in parentheses)
1. Texas A&M (8)
2. San Diego State (7)
3. Texas Tech (18)
4. California (19)
5. Liberty (30)
6. WASHINGTON (31)
7. Pepperdine (41)
8. Oregon State (45)
9. Purdue (55)
10. UC-Davis (52)
11. Arizona (61)
12. Texas-Arlington (67)
13. Loyola-Maryland (200)
14. Army (239)
INDIVIDUALS
1. Zachary Blair, BYU
2. Chris Gilbert, Kansas
3. Jason Shufflebotham, UAB
4. Gustaf Kocken, Louisiana-Monroe
5. Will Hogan, Missouri State
