May 16, 2011

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis golf team will travel to Zionsville, Ind., in search of the program's second berth in the NCAA Championship at the Indiana Regional. The Tigers are one of 14 teams in the field at Wolf Run Golf Club and need to finish in the top five to advance.

Memphis enters the NCAA Regionals on the heels of a second-place finish in the C-USA Championship, where it was led by Jonathan Fly's medalist performance. Fly carded a 54-hole total of 209 (67-73-69) to outduel UCF's Greg Eason for the title.

The NCAA field is made up of 81 teams competing in six regionals across the country with the top-five schools from each regional advancing to the NCAA Championship on May 31 - June 5 in Stillwater, Okla. The Indiana Regional field is as follows:

1. Alabama
2. Illinois
3. Iowa
4. Stanford
5. Wake Forest
6. Tennessee
7. Indiana
8. Florida State
9. Michigan
10. Charlotte
11. MEMPHIS
12. Wichita State
13. UMKC
14. Sacred Heart

"We're all very excited about this opportunity," Memphis head coach Grant Robbins said. "The guys played great coming down the stretch of the season. We're certainly happy to be here, but we aren't satisfied--we want to advance.

The Tigers posted their first tournament victory since 2008 at the Mason Rudolph Championship on Sept. 26, 2010, where they were led by Jack Belote's individual medalist performance. His rounds of 66-69-70 earned him the first individual title of the year as well as Golf Digest's National Player of the Week Honors.

The Tigers averaged 289.9 strokes per round as a team this season and turned in 11 top-10 finishes, including three showings in the top three. Memphis finished the regular season ranked 66th by Golfstat.com and 63rd by Golfweek Magazine.

This will be the third appearance in NCAA postseason play for Memphis and second under Coach Robbins. The Tigers finished tied for 20th at the 2008 NCAA East Regional at Council Fire Golf Club in Chattanooga, Tenn. Robbins was named 2008 C-USA Coach of the Year during that season.

The Tigers advanced to the finals at NCAA Championship for the only time in school history in 1988 when they were led by All-American Steve Metz. Memphis finished 28th in the championship.

Robbins also led UNC-Wilmington to the NCAA Regionals in 2003, making this his third appearance in postseason action as a coach.

Memphis' best accomplishment in the NCAA Championship came in 1955, when former Tiger Hillman Robbins won the Individual Title. Robbins led the 1954-55 Tigers to a 9-2 match record and was named as an alternate to the Walker Cup Team.

• Tuesday, May 17th
o 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. - Tournament Registration

• Wednesday, May 18th
o 7:00 a.m. - Practice facilities open o 8:00 a.m. - Practice rounds begin (#1 tee and #10th tee)
o 5:00 p.m. - Mandatory Rules Meeting at Embassy Suites

• Thursday, May 19th
o 7:00 a.m. - Practice facilities open
o 8:00 a.m. - First round tees off from #1 and #10

• Friday, May 20th
o 7:00 a.m. - Practice facilities open
o 8:00 a.m. - Second round tees off from #1 and #10

• Saturday, May 21st
o 6:30 a.m. - Practice facilities open o 7:30 a.m. - Final round tees off from #1 and #10

Links:
Championship Central: http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/spec-rel/ncaa-golf-11.html
Live scoring: http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/index.cfm?tournament_id=2610
Wolf Run Golf Course: http://guest.wolfrungc.com/guest_index.php
NCAA Men's Golf Championships: http://www.ncaa.com/championships/golf-men/d1

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