No. 3 seed in Southeast
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 17th-ranked University of Arkansas men’s golf team learned that it is traveling to Ocala, Fla., to play in the NCAA Southeast Regional, May 19-21, late Monday on a teleconference hosted by the NCAA.
The Razorbacks face a tough 14-team field at the regional including No. 5 and host Florida, No. 6 Augusta State, No. 20 Oregon, No. 28 North Carolina State, No. 32 Central Florida, No. 42 Baylor, No. 43 Kennesaw State, No. 54 Notre Dame, No. 56 Missouri, No. 65 Southeastern Louisiana, No. 80 Jacksonville State, No. 115 Georgia Southern and No. 233 Jackson State. The Golden Ocala Golf Club serves as the host of the event which is a par 72, 6,735-yard layout.
"We are excited to be chosen as a regional participant, but know that this is just the first step to where we want to go," Arkansas head coach Brad McMakin said. "The Southeast Regional has one of the strongest fields and it will be difficult to finish in the top five and advance to the National Championship, but I know that we are capable of performing well and making another run at a national title."
Arkansas’ regional lineup includes senior Jamie Marshall, junior All-SEC player Ethan Tracy, sophomore Austin Cook, freshman All-SEC and All-SEC Freshman performer Sebastian Cappelen and freshman Will Pearson. The quintet competed together in seven of Arkansas’ 11 events this season including all four of Arkansas’ tournament victories.
The Razorbacks’ participation at the Southeast Regional is their fourth-straight and 18th overall regional championship since 1989. Arkansas finished 8th at the Southeast Regional a year ago in Atlanta, Ga., after finishing tied for second at the South Central in 2009 on way to a runner-up finish at the National Championship.
If Arkansas hopes to make another run at a National Championship, it will have to finish among the top five teams at the Southeast Regional. So far this year, the Razorbacks have played against seven of its regional opponents and compiled a 9-2 record against those squads. The NCAA Championships are set for May 31-June 5 at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla.
