COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State and UNLV will represent the Mountain West Conference in the 2002 NCAA Men's Golf West Regional May 16-18 at University of New Mexico Championship Course (Par 72--7,141 Yards) in Albuquerque, N.M., announced by the NCAA Monday. Air Force's Ben Leestma and Wyoming Mike Urbatchka also received invitations to participate in the regional. The tournament is scheduled for 54 holes, with 18 to be played on each of three days. Tee times will begin at 7:12 a.m. MDT daily. A practice round, which is open to the media, will be played on Wednesday, May 15 at 8 a.m. Three regional tournaments will be conducted May 16-18 to determine the championships field. Regional tournaments are considered preliminary rounds of NCAA championships competition.

A total of 27 teams and six individuals have been selected for each regional competition with ten teams and two individuals advancing from each regional to the championships finals. The championships will be conducted May 29-June 1 at Ohio State University's Scarlet Course (Par 72--7,368 Yards) in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State University is the host institution for this year's championships.

The Rebels received the league's automatic bid after capturing their second MWC championship in three years last week in Sunriver, Ore. UNLV is currently ranked No. 35 in the latest Golf Week poll (released on May 5) and placed 11th in the 2001 NCAA West Regional. This will be the Rebels 14th consecutive NCAA appearance under head coach Dwaine Knight, who captured the national title in 1998.

New Mexico is the highest ranked team in the MWC at No. 22. The Lobos will be making their 13th consecutive NCAA appearance, while hosting the regional for the fourth time. New Mexico tied for 19th at last year's West Regional held in Corvallis, Ore.

The 24th-ranked San Diego State men's golf team received its fourth consecutive postseason berth and second under head coach Dale Walker. The Aztecs have made six overall regional postseason appearances and finished 12th last year, coming four strokes away from advancing to nationals.

BYU has participated in 12 straight NCAA regional tournaments, and has placed in the top 10 on five occasions (1991, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2000). Last year, the Cougars finished tied for 19th at the West Regional.

Colorado State will make its seventh straight NCAA appearance, setting a new school record for consecutive postseason appearances. Third-year coach Jamie Bermel's squad has tied the school record for most consecutive NCAA appearances ñ also held by the Rams' volleyball program ñ and set the record for men's sport programs when the team was invited to the 2002 tournament. In 2001, Colorado State placed 17th at the West Regional.

Teams 

 1.   Southern California
 2.   Texas
 3.   Minnesota
 4.   Fresno State
 5.   Washington
 6.   New Mexico
 7.   Pepperdine
 8.   San Diego State
 9.   Arizona
10.   Nevada
11.   Oregon
12.   Ohio State
13.   UCLA
14.   Washington State
15.   UC Irvine
16.   Pacific
17.   UNLV
18.   Stanford
19.   Arizona State
20.   Texas Tech
21.   California
22.   Brigham Young
23.   Colorado State
24.   Illinois State (Missouri Valley)
25.   Detroit (Horizon)
26.   Indiana/Purdue-Indianapolis (Mid-Continent)
27.   Central Connecticut State (Northeast)

Individuals

1.   Chris Baryla, UTEP
2.   Ben Leestma, Air Force
3.   David Yarnes, Oregon State
4.   Brandon Hillpot, UC Riverside
5.   Mike Urbatchka, Wyoming
6.   Erik Billinger, Denver