UW Men's Golf Headed To NCAA Regionals In Oklahoma
May 7, 2012
• Williams, Pan Named First Team All-Pac-12
INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA announced the field for the 2012 Division I Men's Golf Championship regional sites and Washington was announced as the No. 3 seed at the Norman, Oklahoma region. Action at each of the six regions will be held May 17-19 with 54-holes of action taking place at each site.
"I'm excited," said Husky Coach Matt Thurmond about being assigned to the home course of the Oklahoma Sooners. "I've been to Oklahoma City, but I've never been to Norman.
I've heard the course is good."
Joining the Huskies at the 7,387-yard, par-72 Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club are top-ranked Texas, followed by in order of seed: Georgia Tech, Washington, Florida State, Oklahoma, Saint Mary's, Illinois, Middle Tennessee, South Carolina, San Diego, Arizona, Sacramento State, IUPUI and Loyola-Chicago.
UW Coach Matt Thurmond was excited that his team was sent to a course they have never played on and joked that his squad might even have to wear green and gold socks and Sonics tee shirts to show their loyalty for the former Seattle NBA team. But, Thurmond said, most importantly, his team will get a breather from facing most of the tough Pac-12 competition.
"In facing Texas, it's fun to play against the top team in the country," said Thurmond. "But, I guess I'm kind of excited that none of the top Pac-12 teams are there. We've seen them enough and we know how good they are, so it's nice to not have to compete against them."
Five teams and one individual from each of the regions will advance on to the NCAA Championship. The Huskies will be making its 17th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance and will be fighting to earn their ninth trip to the NCAA Championship under Thurmond.
Washington has amassed three team victories this season and has finished first or second in six of 11 events. The Huskies are currently ranked 13th in the GCAA Coaches poll, Golfstat.com rankings and Golfweek/Sagarin poll.
The Huskies are led by two of the world's top amateur golfers: Chris Williams and Cheng-Tsung Pan. Both were named to the All-Pac-12 First Team on Monday. Williams is currently sixth in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and Pan is 13th.
Joining Williams and Pan in the rotation is a pair of tested veterans: Charlie Hughes and Trevor Simsby. Today, Hughes earned a spot at the U.S. Open regional qualifier that will be hosted in June at the Emerald City Course in Eugene after winning a sectional at Royal Oaks Golf Course in Vancouver, Wash. today.
The fifth spot in the lineup is still up for grabs and will be determined through qualifying practice rounds.
This year's NCAA Championships will be hosted at Los Angeles' Riviera Club from May 29 through June 3. It is rare that the NCAA Championship is played on the West Coast. In Thurmond's 10 previous years at the helm, the Championship has been played in Pac-12 country just once - 2006 at Sunriver Resort in Bend, Ore. In fact, going back 25 years, the tournament has made its way to the west just three times.
The NCAA Norman Regional Field (Golfweek/Sagarin Ranking)
1. Texas (1)
2. Georgia Tech (9)
3. Washington (13)
4. Florida State (24)
5. Oklahoma (30)
6. St. Mary's (Calif.) (34)
7. Illinois (32)
8. Middle Tennessee (47)
9. South Carolina (53)
10. San Diego (61)
11. Arizona (60)
12. Sacramento State (84)
13. Indiana/Purdue-Indianapolis (113)
14. Loyola Chicago (220)
Individuals:
1. Martin Simonsen, UTEP
2. Kevin Lucas, Nevada
3. Mitchell McLeroy, Stephen F. Austin
4. Scott Willman, Nebraska
5. Alfred Kerstis, UALR
