MWC Sends 5 Women's Golf Teams to NCAA Regionals
FacebookApril 25, 2011
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -
For the second consecutive year, the Mountain West will be represented by five teams in the 2011 NCAA Women's Golf Regionals, announced Monday by the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Committee. The Mountain West has sent multiple teams to the NCAA Women's Golf Regionals in each of its 12 years. This year also marks the eighth consecutive season, and 10th overall, in which the MW has sent at least three teams to the postseason.TCU earned the Mountain West's automatic berth after capturing the Conference championship at the Wigwam Resort in Phoenix, Ariz. The Horned Frogs will be joined in postseason play by BYU, New Mexico, San Diego State and UNLV.
A total of 72 teams and 18 individuals will compete in three 54-hole regional tournaments from May 5-7. Eight teams and two individuals from each regional site will advance to the national championships finals, which will be held May 18-21 at the Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas. Texas A&M will serve as the host institution for this year's national championship.
No. 32 TCU will participate in the NCAA Regionals for the 16th consecutive year. The Horned Frogs will play in the East Regional, hosted by Stetson and the Central Florida Sports Commission at the LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Horned Frogs have posted a top-eight finish at its last four regional tournaments and will be looking to make their fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship. TCU is just one of seven programs to record a top-20 finish at the national championship in each of the last four seasons. The Frogs are led by senior Prisela Campbell, who finished fourth at the 2011 Mountain West Championship.
No. 47 UNLV will travel to the Central Regional, hosted at the Warren Golf Course in Notre Dame, Ind. The Rebels are making their ninth straight NCAA Regional appearance in the program's 10-year history. UNLV is led by senior Therese Koelbaek, who currently ranks 19th in the nation after capturing the individual title at the 2011 Mountain West Championship.
No. 44 San Diego State's appearance at the 2011 West Regional marks the second consecutive year the Aztecs have qualified for postseason play under second-year head coach Emilee Klein. The University of Washington will host the competition at the Washington National Golf Course in Auburn, Wash. The invitation marks San Diego State's fourth appearance in an NCAA Regional as a member of the Mountain West, and eighth in program history. The Aztecs are led by all-Conference performers Christine Wong and Stephanie Arcala.
New Mexico, which is currently ranked 54th nationally, will join San Diego State at the West Regional in Auburn, Wash. The Lobos' appearance in the West Regional marks the 19th consecutive year UNM has qualified for postseason action (every year since regional play was introduced in 1993). New Mexico finished fourth at last year's Central Regional, played at the Otter Creek Golf Course in Bloomington, Ind., and advanced to the NCAA Championship for the second straight season. The Lobos are seeking their 16th trip to the national championship, after tying for 16th at the 2010 NCAA tournament in Wilmington, N.C.
BYU also earned an at-large bid to the West Regional, marking the Cougars' first postseason appearance since 2008 and ninth as a member of the Mountain West. BYU, which currently ranks 59th nationally, will be led by sophomore All-Conference selection Kelsey Vines, who tied for second at the MW Championship.
Individually, Colorado State's Brianna Espinoza will also compete in the West Regional. The junior has tallied four top-eight finishes this season.Article Courtesy of The MWC
