Ohio State Ready for NCAA Ann Arbor Regional – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/15/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 15, 2012
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s golf team will compete in the NCAA Regional tournament this week, May 17-19, on the par 71, 6,723-yard University of Michigan Golf Course in Ann Arbor. Ohio State’s selection into the tournament marks the Buckeyes’ 45th overall appearance in NCAA post-season play.
The No. 12-seeded Buckeyes are slated to tee off beginning at 9:10 a.m. in the opening round Thursday. Tee times for Friday and Saturday’s rounds will be determined by score. Overall, the group will play 54-holes over three days of competition.
TOURNAMENT BASICS
Name: NCAA Regional (Ann Arbor)
Course: University of Michigan Golf Course (par 71, 6,723 yards)
Field (13): (Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, May 14)
1. Southern California (5)
2. Oregon (6)
3. Kent State (17)
4. Virginia (21)
5. Baylor (29)
6. Oklahoma State (27)
7. Kennesaw State (43)
8. TCU (41)
9. Purdue (49)
10. North Carolina State
11. Notre Dame
12. Ohio State
13. Navy
Individuals:
Peter Williamson, Dartmouth
Matt Thompson, Michigan
Sebastian MaClean, Xavier
Erik Van Rooyen, Minnesota
Dan Ellis, Michigan State
Tyler Merkel, Ball State
Charlie Bill, Akron
Chad Ebert, Green Bay
William Park, Army
Greg Matthias, Delaware
Schedule: (Eastern Standard Time)
Wednesday – Registration and Practice Round
Thursday – First Round – 18 holes; 8 a.m. tee times
Friday – Second Round – 18 holes; 8 a.m. tee times
Saturday – Final Round – 18 holes; 8 a.m. tee times
KEEPING UP WITH THE BUCKEYES
Live scoring of the tournament will be available at www.golfstat.com with daily summaries following each round at www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com. Updates during the tournament will be posted on www.twitter.com/OhioState_MGOLF.
HOW IT WORKS
The Ann Arbor regional is one of six regional tournaments and will feature a field of 13 teams along with 10 individuals. Three of the NCAA Regionals follow this format, while the others include 14 teams and five individuals. The low five teams and the low individual not on an advancing will move on to the NCAA Finals, May 29-June 3, at the Rivera Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif. A total of 30 qualifying teams and six individuals not included on those qualifying teams will compete in the finals.
THE LINEUP
Two seniors and three newbies highlight the Buckeye lineup this weekend. Seniors Alex Redfield and Dan Charen bring NCAA experience to the squad as both were in Ohio State’s lineup last year when the Buckeyes made a run to a top 5 finish at the 2011 NCAA Championships.
Joining the pair is redshirt freshman Logan Jones and true freshmen Grant Weaver and Boo Timko. Weaver has led the squad in three tournaments this year.
BIG HONORS
Grant Weaver recently became just the second Buckeye to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. The Wooster, Ohio, native posted a 72.84 rating on the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, and led all Buckeyes with a 14-over 302 to tie for 21st at the Big Ten Championships. Weaver is the first Ohio State newcomer to receive the honor since Chris Smith in 1988.
Senior Alex Redfield was honored as Ohio State’s Sportsmanship Award recipient.
SCOUTING THE FIELD
Of the 12 other teams competing, Ohio State has faced Kent State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Purdue, N.C. State and Notre Dame. In the regular season, the Buckeyes have posted a record of 67-49-2 and are 4-9 against teams competing in the regional.
The Ann Arbor Regional is led by top-seed and No. 5 Southern California, while No. 6 Oregon is seeded second. Overall, the regional includes nine teams in the top 50.
BUCKEYES AT BIG TENS
Carding a total of 1,220, Ohio State concluded the 2012 Big Ten Championships in ninth-place on the par 72, 7,152-yard Pete Dye Course in French Lick, Ind.
Freshman Grant Weaver led the Buckeyes will a final round mark of 77 to tie for 21st at 302. Fellow newcomer, Boo Timko tallied a 310 to finish tied 35th, while redshirt freshman Logan Jones also notched a 310 to tie with Timko.
Junior Matt Turner carded an even 72 in the final round, and concluded the tournament in 40th at 311. Senior Alex Redfield was one stroke back from Turner, finishing with a 312 for 42nd.
Illinois took home the title after 72 holes of play. The Fighting Illini recorded a total of 1,175 and was led by individual medalist Luke Guthrie (5-under 283).
THE REGIONAL LINKS
Designed in the late 1920s by Alister MacKenzie, the University of Michigan Golf Course has been home to numerous championships including the NCAA Regional Championship, three Western Junior Championships, three Michigan Opens and one USGA Junior Championship. Overlooking the University’s main campus, the course officially opened in the spring of 1931 and is one of only six MacKenzie-designed golf courses in the United States, including the famed Augusta National.
A multi-million dollar renovation was completed in the spring of 1994, and was orchestrated by Michigan graduate Arthur Hills. The renovation featured the return of original bunkers, improved tree planting and placement, construction of stately tee areas and an improved irrigation system. A new practice range was also placed to assist Michigan’s golf squads, along with a number of practice greens and sand traps.
KEPLER INTERCOLLEGIATE
After battling through a very wet opening round to the 42nd-annual Robert Kepler Intercollegiate, the Ohio State men’s golf team returned to finish in a fifth-place tie on the final day (April 15) of competition. The Buckeyes ended the tournament with a 57-over 909 total.
Ohio State’s top finisher for the tournament, which the Buckeyes hosted at the Ohio State University Golf Club, was Logan Jones. The redshirt freshman carded a 13-over 226 to finish tied for ninth.
WEATHER REPORT
The weather projection couldn’t be brighter for regional play in Ann Arbor. Thursday features highs in the low-70s, with only a 10 percent chance of precipitation and winds under 10 mph. Friday and Saturday temperatures will continue to increase, reaching the low-80s by the final round of play. Little to no precipitation is expected for either Friday or Saturday at the course.
ON TO THE NEXT ONE
Ohio State will look to secure a trip to the 2012 NCAA Championships held May 29-June 3 at the Rivera Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif.
