Men’s Golf Sent West for NCAA Regional CompetitionComplete Regional Fields Set – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 7, 2002
COLUMBUS, Ohio–The Ohio State men’s golf team received an at-large bid to postseason play Monday when the NCAA announced the Buckeyes were selected to play in the NCAA West Regional in Albuquerque, N.M. Ohio State will depart May 14 with competition scheduled for May 16-18.
Ohio State finished seventh at the 2002 Big Ten Tournament over the weekend and were thought to be out of contention for a regional berth. Six teams were selected for NCAA regional play from Region IV, where Ohio State is located. The Buckeyes battled Northwestern for the sixth spot from Region IV at the Big Ten tournament but were unable to finish higher than the Wildcats, who finished fourth at the conference tournament.
Jim Brown, Ohio State head coach, said his team’s performance against some of the best teams in the country early in the season must have been the deciding factor when the regional selection committee chose the Buckeyes as an at-large participant.
The Buckeyes served as host for the 2001 Ping/Golfweek Preview last fall (Sept. 28-30). In that competition, Ohio State finished fifth overall, ahead of current No. 1 (in most recent Golfweek Collegiate poll) Georgia Tech, No. 7 Oklahoma State, No. 13 Georgia, No. 18 Oklahoma and No. 25 Arizona.
“I am a little surprised (with the selection) but our record against some of the top teams in the country is pretty good,” Brown said. “The West is a good region for us and we are seeded No. 12 of the 27 teams. There are a lot of good teams out there and some great competition.”
Ohio State will serve as host for the 2002 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships May 29-June on The OSU Scarlet Course. Brown said the opportunity to play on OSU’s home course in the NCAA tournament has been motivation throughout the season for the Buckeyes.
“This gives us another life,” Brown said of the regional selection. “I know the players are excited. Our ultimate goal was to do well in the Big Ten tournament and then qualify for the NCAA tournament on our home course.”
A total of 10 teams from each of the three regionals (East, Central and West) will advance to play in the NCAA tournament in Columbus. All 30 teams will begin practice rounds May 27.
Listed below are the teams and individuals selected to participate in the 2002 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships.
EAST REGIONAL
Ansley Golf Club’s Settin’ Down Creek in Roswell, Georgia
Hosted by Georgia Institute of Technology.
Teams (seeded in the following order):
1. Georgia Tech (Atlantic Coast)
2. Florida
3. Tennessee
4. Wake Forest
5. Clemson
6. Augusta State
7. Auburn (SEC)
8. Georgia
9. North Carolina
10. Duke
11. Alabama-Birmingham
12. North Florida
13. South Carolina
14. Virginia
15. College of Charleston (Southern)
16. Michigan State
17. Coastal Carolina (Big South)
18. Furman
19. Georgia Southern
20. Jacksonville State (Atlantic Sun)
21. Virginia Commonwealth (Colonial)
22. Penn State
23. South Alabama (Sun Belt)
24. William and Mary
25. Yale
26. Rhode Island (Atlantic 10)
27. Iona (Metro Atlantic)
Individuals:
1. Andy Smith, Southeastern Louisiana
2. Brandt Snedeker, Vanderbilt
3. Tim Yelverton, Southern Mississippi
4. Simon Dunn, Campbell
5. Adam Gee, North Carolina-Wilmington
6. David Ryles, Charleston Southern
CENTRAL REGIONAL
Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, Arkansas
Hosted by University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
Teams (seeded in the following order):
1. TCU (C-USA)
2. North Carolina State
3. Oklahoma State
4. Virginia Tech (Big East)
5. Oklahoma
6. Toledo (MAC)
7. Purdue
8. Lamar (Southland)
9. Baylor
10. Alabama
11. LSU
12. Tulsa (WAC)
13. Kansas
14. Southern Methodist
15. Illinois
16. Houston
17. Missouri
18. Colorado
19. Texas-Arlington
20. Northwestern
21. Arkansas State
22. Maryland
23. St. John’s (New York)
24. Austin Peay State (Ohio Valley)
25. Princeton (Ivy)
26. Army (Patriot)
27. Jackson State (SWAC)
Individuals:
1. Gibby Martens, Texas-San Antonio
2. John Holmes, Kentucky
3. Erik Herberth, Ohio
4. David Jenkins, Southwest Missouri State
5. Adrian Mork, McNeese State
6. Aaron Watkins, Kansas State
WEST REGIONAL
University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Hosted by the University of New Mexico.
Teams (seeded in the following order):
1. Southern California (Pacific-10)
2. Texas (Big 12)
3. Minnesota (Big Ten)
4. Fresno State
5. Washington
6. New Mexico
7. Pepperdine (West Coast)
8. San Diego State
9. Arizona
10. Nevada
11. Oregon
12. Ohio State
13. UCLA
14. Washington State
15. UC Irvine (Big West)
16. Pacific (California)
17. UNLV (Mountain West)
18. Stanford
19. Arizona State
20. Texas Tech
21. California
22. Brigham Young
23. Colorado State
24. Illinois State (Missouri Valley)
25. Detroit (Horizon)
26. Indiana/Purdue-Indianapolis (Mid-Continent)
27. Central Connecticut State (Northeast)
Individuals:
1. Chris Baryla, UTEP
2. Ben Leestma, Air Force
3. David Yarnes, Oregon State
4. Brandon Hillpot, UC Riverside
5. Mike Urbatchka, Wyoming
6. Erik Billinger, Denver
