May 9, 2011
Columbia, Mo. -
Missouri Golf is headed back to postseason play after being selected to participate in the 2011 NCAA Southeast Regional (May 19-21) by the NCAA Men’s Golf Selection Committee. The Southeast Regional will be hosted at the Golden Ocala Golf Club in Ocala, Fla., and top-seeded Florida is the tournament host.
It’s the 10th NCAA Regional appearance for Mizzou and fourth under head coach Mark Leroux. It is also the second consecutive year Missouri has qualified for NCAA Regional play.
Confidence is through the roof and well deserved. Can
“I’m excited for our guys and our program,” Head Coach Mark Leroux said. “These guys are playing with confidence and they have earned this opportunity. They have a chance to compete for a championship.”
Missouri is one of the younger teams in this year’s field and will return four of five starters in 2011-12. The Tigers are currently ranked No. 56 nationally and were one of seven Big 12 teams to qualify for NCAA Regional play.
Missouri is led by standout Jace Long. A native of Dixon, Mo., Long owns three tournament wins this spring season, including the Mizzou Intercollegiate title on April 5 at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia. Long is ranked 61st nationally by GolfStat.com and is among the nation’s leaders in 2011 with those three spring victories.
Also playing well is sophomore Stuart Ballingall. The Norwich, United Kingdom, product finished fourth at the 2011 Big 12 Championship in Hutchinson, Kan., tying or defeating 14 of the country’s Top 100 players. The fourth-place showing earned him All-Tournament accolades. He is also a standout in the classroom where he was named first team Academic All-Big 12 in 2011.
Mizzou last advanced to NCAA finals play in 2005, earning a 16th place national finish overall. Missouri will be one of 14 teams competing in the Southeast Regional. The 75-man field will also have five individual performers. The top five finishing teams and top individual will advance to the 114th NCAA Championships, May 31-June 5, at Karsten Creek Golf Course in Stillwater, Okla.
NCAA Tournament Host Sites: The Pete Dye River Course in Pulaski, Va. (Virginia Tech host), the Omni Tucson National Resort in Tucson, Ariz. (Arizona Host), the Colorado National Golf Club in Erie, Colo. (Colorado host), the Golden Ocala Golf Club in Ocala, Fla. (Florida host), Wolf Run Golf Club in Zionsville, Ind. (Indiana host), and the Farms Golf Course in Rancho Santé Fe, Calif. (San Diego host).
For more information on Missouri Golf please visit our website at mutigers.com.
NCAA Southeast Regional Participating Teams
(With Seeds)
1. Florida
2. Augusta State
3. Arkansas
4. Oregon
5. North Carolina State
6. Central Florida
7. Baylor
8. Kennesaw State
9. Notre Dame
10. Missouri
11. Southeast Louisiana
12. Jacksonville State
13. Georgia Southern
14. Jackson State
NCAA Regional Appearances
1989 16th
1990 18th
1992 21st
1995 21st
2002 20th
2003 26th
2005 6th
2006 19th
2010 10th
2011 TBA
NCAA Finals Appearances
1949 N/A
1963 15th
1971 N/A
1972 29th
1983 13th
1984 14th
1986 22nd
2005 16th
### Mizzou Golf ###
