|
|
|
Four MWC Women's Golf Teams Earn NCAA Regional Bids BYU, New Mexico, TCU and UNLV receive berths in NCAA regional field.
May 1, 2006 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Mountain West Conference will have four teams and one individual represented in the 2006 NCAA Women's Golf Regional, announced Monday by the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Committee. UNLV earned the automatic berth after winning the Conference championship last week in St. George, Utah, and will be joined by BYU, New Mexico and TCU. In addition, Colorado State's Chelsea Benton was one of nine golfers to receive an individual slot in this year's regional tournament. In the West Regional, which will be played May 11-13 at Washington National Golf Club, Las Auburn, Wash., UNLV earned the No. five seed; New Mexico, the No. 8 seed; and BYU, the No. 11 seed. In addition, CSU's Chelsea Benton will be on of three individuals in the West. No. 15 UNLV is making its fourth-straight NCAA Regional appearance for the Rebels in the five-year history of the program. The Rebels won their third-straight Mountain West Conference Championship by five strokes over No. 23 New Mexico. Freshman Da Sol Chung won the MWC individual title on her way to earning the league's player of the year and freshman of the year awards. No. 23 New Mexico marks the 14th consecutive year the Lobos have made postseason action, or every year since regional play was introduced in 1993. The Lobos will be looking for their first trek to the NCAA Championships since 2004, when the team placed tied for 15th place at the Grand National Course in Opelika, Ala. BYU is making its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Regionals. The Cougars' No. 11 seed is it best in school history and their 12th trip in the last 14 years. Last year, BYU finished sixth at the NCAA West Regional and advanced to the NCAA Championship for the first time in 20 years. Meanwhile, Benton was the top finisher for the Rams in seven of the team's 10 tournaments this season, including a tied for 10th at the MWC Championships. She also led the team in stroke average (74.97), top-10 finishes with three and top-20 finishes with four. She was named the Mountain West Golfer of the Month in November and was one of eight players to be honored on the All-Mountain West Conference team. TCU, which is making its 11th consecutive trip to the NCAA Regionals, will be playing in the Central Regional May 11-13. The Horned Frogs will be looking for a trip to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2000, when TCU placed 20th. This year's Central Regional will be played at The Traditions at Texas A&M, College Station, Texas. The Horned Frogs placed fourth at the 2006 MWC Championships. A total of 324 participants have been selected for the regional competition. Of these players, 126 will advance to the championships finals. Eight teams and two individuals will advance from each region. The championships finals will be held May 23-26 at the Scarlet Course, Columbus, Ohio, hosted by Ohio State University.
|
|
