FORT COLLINS, Colo. -For a record-setting seventh year in a row, Colorado State University's
men's golf team has been invited to the NCAA Championships. Third-year
coach Jamie Bermel's squad has tied the school record for most
consecutive NCAA appearances - also held by the Rams' volleyball program
- and set the record for men's sport programs when the team was invited
to the 2002 tournament. Bermel's team will be one of five Mountain West
Conference teams competing in the 27-team West Regional to be hosted by
the University of New Mexico on the Lobos' University course, May
16-18. The Rams finished in a tie for fifth in the MWC Championships
and feature the conference's individual title winner. Sophomore Martin
Laird from Beardsden, U.K., finished with a four-under 212 to win
individual honors. The Albuquerque site is one of three 27-team
regionals. Each regional also includes six individual players. Ten
teams and two individuals from each regional will advance to the NCAA
Championships May 29-June at Ohio State University's Scarlet Course in
Columbus, Ohio. The East Regional will take place at the Ansley Golf
Club's Setting' Down Creek in Roswell, Ga., hosted by Georgia Tech. The
Central Regional is being played at the Pleasant Valley Country Club in
Little Rock, Ark., hosted by the University of Arkansas.
Laird Wins MWC Individual Title; Rams Fifth
Sophomore golfer Martin Laird won the individual title in the MWC
Championships to hand Colorado State's men's and women's golf programs a
sweep of the top individual honors at the respective conference meets in
2002. A native of Beardsden, U.K., Laird finished with a three-round
total 212, four under par on the par 72, 7,188-yard Sunriver Resort in
Sunriver, Ore. He beat San Diego State's Mark Warman and J.C. Deacon on
UNLV by two strokes. Laird entered the final round in second place, two
shots off the lead, but shot a two-under par 70 in the final round, the
same score he had in the second round. Laird was named to the
all-conference team following the meet. Following Laird, the Rams' David
Schultz finished tied for 26th place, seven over par, 223. Brett Tobyne,
who shot a nine-over 225, tied for 33rd, while Tommy Sharp finished in
37th, 12-over 228. John Hayes was 40th, 235, 19 over. Duran, a
freshman from Lakewood, Colo., won the women's conference individual
title last week. Colorado State finished in a tie for fifth in the team
standings. UNLV won the tournament, shooting 867, while the Rams
finished at 879.
Bermel Setting Lineup
Head Coach Jamie Bermel has four of five golfers in place for the NCAA
Regionals next week at New Mexico's University Course. Bermel said
sophomore Martin Laird (Bearsden, U.K.), freshman David Schultz (Fargo,
N.D.), junior Tommy Sharp (Salt Lake City, Utah), and Brett Tobyne, a
sophomore (Lakewood, Colo.). John Hayes, a sophomore from Littleton,
Colo., and senior Dallas Massey from Henderson, Nev., are competing in a
playoff for the team's fifth and final roster spot.
Last Regional Appearance
Colorado State makes its seventh consecutive NCAA Regional appearance in
Albuquerque, N.M., May 16-18 at the Lobos' University Course. Last
year, Colorado State finished 17th in the West Regional, hosted by
Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore. Laird was the team'sa top finisher in
NCAA play a yar ago, shooting a four-over-par score of 220 for the three
rounds and ty ing for 26th place. Current Rams Dallas Massey (tie,
77th), Brett Tobyne (tie, 96th), and James Kurtenbach (tie, 112th), also
had competed in last year's NCAA Regional event.
