With the conclusion of regional play at three sites throughout the country over the weekend, the field is in place for the 1999 NCAA men’s golf championships.
Minnesota will host the tournament June 2-5 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.
The Gophers captured the NCAA central regional title by three strokes over Northwestern at Ohio State’s Scarlet Course. Defending NCAA champion James McLean claimed medalist honors for Minnesota in leading the program to its first regional golf championship.
Georgia Tech won the east regional title in Barrington, R.I., by nine strokes over South Carolina despite a late run by the Gamecocks. South Carolina made up six shots on the Yellowjackets in Saturday’s final round, but Georgia Tech, led by 1998 national player of the year Bryce Molder and 1997 U.S. Amateur champion Matt Kuchar, held on for the win. South Carolina’s Kyle Thompson won medalist honors in the east regional.
Arizona State, led by a pair of talented sophomores, claimed the west regional in Tucson, Ariz. Sun Devil sophomore Jeff Quinney was the low player in the 93-player field, with teammates Matt Jones and Paul Casey also placing in the top 10. Casey, also a sophomore, set an NCAA record earlier this season by firing a 60 in the Pac-10 championship. The previous low for a collegiate golfer was set by Stanford’s Tiger Woods with a 61 at the 1996 Pac-10 tournament.
In addition to the 30 teams of five players that qualified, six other individual golfers — two from each region — have earned trips to Hazeltine. In all, 156 players will compete at Hazeltine.
By region, in order of finish, here are the teams who will compete for the 1999 NCAA title:
East regional team qualifiers: No. 4 Georgia Tech, No. 11 South Carolina, No. 8 Florida, No. 1 Georgia, No. 19 East Tennessee State, No. 47 Duke, No. 15 North Carolina, Richmond, No. 44 Mississippi, No. 3 Clemson, Augusta State.
Central regional team qualifiers: No. 10 Minnesota, No. 12 Northwestern, No. 13 Nebraska, No. 6 Oklahoma State, No. 5 Houston, Toledo, Illinois, Arkansas, No. 27 Kansas, Colorado.
West regional team qualifiers: No. 7 Arizona State, No. 2 UNLV, No. 16 Brigham Young, No. 21 California, No. 20 Oregon, No. 43 San Diego State, No. 14 Washington, No. 35 Colorado State, Arizona.