Jayhawks Set to Compete in NCAA Central Regional
May 15, 2007
LAWRENCE, KAN. –
The University of <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas men’s golf team is set to compete in their 16th NCAA Regional in the last 18 years when they begin play Thursday May 17th at Rich Harvest Farms Golf Club in Sugar Grove, Ill. The Jayhawks, seeded no. 20, will compete against 26 teams that are vying for an invitation to the NCAA Championship.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The tournament will consist of a single round of play on May 17-19. The top 10 teams and two individuals will qualify for the NCAA Championship conducted on May 30-June 2 at Gold Course at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Williamsburg, Va. The Jayhawks played in the Rich Harvest Farms Intercollegiate at Rich Harvest Farms Golf Club during the fall season and finished in fifth place.
“Our players need to be patient with the golf course,” said head coach Ross Randall. “It is as hard of a golf course as they have ever seen. You can get intimidated by something really difficult and get off to a bad start. You have to keep your patience and learning how to take a bogey and that’s all. Good scores can be shot, but not many. This course just doesn’t allow it.”
The Jayhawks will once again be led by Gary Woodland. Woodland, who was recently named to the All-Big 12 team, competed in the NCAA Regional last year and finished tied for 75th. Woodland has three victories and eight top-10 finishes during his senior campaign.
Woodland will be joined by fellow seniors Tyler Docking and Barrett Martens. Docking has competed in two NCAA Regionals. He finished 98th and 115th during his sophomore and freshman campaigns, respectively. Docking has finished in the top-10 on six occasions during his senior season. Martens will be making his first appearance at the NCAA Regionals. He has competed in five events this year.
Sophomore Walt Koelbel is coming off his best career finish at the Big 12 Championship when he finished in ninth place. Koelbel carded his career-best round of 69 during the final round of play at the Big 12 Championship. Koelbel will be making his first career start at the NCAA Regionals.
Junior Joey Mundy will also be making the trip to Sugar Grove, Ill. Mundy competed in all but one event during the spring season, recording a scoring average of 75.83. This will mark Mundy’s first appearance at the NCAA Regionals.
Rich Harvest Farms will present a tough challenge for all teams competing at this week’s event. The winning team score at the Rich Harvest Farms Intercollegiate was 31 strokes over par.
“This is a course that is going to favor us, rather than a course that you have to shoot 25 under to make it,” said Randall. “We can shoot a 75 on a hard golf course. It’s harder for us to shoot 67 on an easy course. But if you are not strong emotionally and mentally, you will not survive this course. That’s why it is good that we saw it in September when we played in a tournament there.”
The Jayhawks finished in 10th place at the Big 12 Championship in their last event.
Track the Jayhawks progress at the NCAA Central Regional with live scoring at http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/index.cfm?tournament_id=959.
