KU's Gilbert Qualifies For NCAA Golf Regional
May 9, 2011
Complete Regional Selections in PDF Format 
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas golfer Chris Gilbert was selected to compete in the NCAA Arizona Regional men’s golf championship it was announced Monday night.
Gilbert, a sophomore from Simi Valley, Calif., was one of five individuals selected to play in the regional, which will be held at Omni Tucson National Resort in Tucson, Ariz., May 19-21.
The low five teams and low individual not on those teams from each of six regionals will advance to the NCAA Championships at Stillwater, Okla., May 31-June 5. The Arizona Regional features 14 teams paced by top-seed Texas A&M. In addition to Gilbert, the five individuals competing include Zachary Blair of BYU, Jason Schufflebottom of UAB, Gustaf Kocken of Louisiana-Monroe and Will Hogan of Missouri State.
Gilbert’s selection marks the second straight season a Jayhawk was picked to play in the regional as Nate Barbee competed last year. Barbee tied for 39th. The last time a Jayhawk, playing as an individual, qualified for the NCAA Championship was Andy Stewart, who tied for 53rd at the NCAA finals in 2001.
Gilbert led the Jayhawks with a 73.65 scoring average this season. Most recently he tied for 14th at the Big 12 Championship. He was KU’s first or second finisher in 11 of 12 events, pacing the team five times.
On the year Gilbert posted six top-15 finishes, including each of his last three events. He closed the regular season tying for 11th at the Border Olympics, tying for 15th at the Hawkeye Invitational and tying for 14th at the Big 12.
Gilbert’s best finish on the year was a tie for seventh at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate to close the fall when he fired a final-round 65.
“We are very excited and happy for Chris,” said KU head coach Kit Grove. “It is a great reward for a year of hard work. He played very consistently throughout the whole year and just missed making All-Big 12. He has been given one more opportunity to go play well and maybe get to nationals.”
As a freshman in 2010 he played in all 12 of KU’s tournaments and was third on the team with a 76.03 scoring average.
