May 6, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The 20th-ranked South Carolina men’s golf team has earned a bid to play in the NCAA Columbus Regional on May 16-18 in Columbus, Ohio, the NCAA announced Monday night.

The Gamecocks received the No. 4 seed and will compete against 12 teams on the Scarlet Course at The Ohio State University Golf Club. Ten individuals will also play for medalist honors. Five teams and the low individual not on those teams from each of the six regional sites will advance to the NCAA Championship, which will be held on May 28-June 2 at the Capital City Club in Atlanta, Ga.

“We are excited to finally know where we are going to be traveling to compete for regionals,” South Carolina head coach Bill McDonald said. “The Scarlet Course is a good setup for us. You have to drive the ball really well. It should be a good fit for our team based on my experience there.”

Carolina is one of 13 SEC programs to receive a bid and one of three in the Columbus Regional. Of the 13 teams slated to compete in Columbus, eight are ranked in the Golfstat Top 50. No. 6 New Mexico is the top seed, followed by No. 8 Stanford, No. 18 Auburn, the Gamecocks, No. 29 Missouri, No. 35 UNLV, No. 41 Texas Tech and No. 44 Chattanooga. Georgia Southern, San Francisco, Virginia, Charlotte and Valparaiso round out the field.

The Gamecocks, who are making their 21st NCAA Regional appearance and their 16th in the last 17 years, will enter the regional with momentum after finishing runner-up to second-ranked Alabama at the SEC Championship. Carolina is looking to advance to the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2009 and the 17th time overall.

At last year’s NCAA Southwest Regional in Norman, Okla., the Gamecocks finished eighth with a total of 895 (+31). Carolina claimed its only regional title in 2007, winning the West Regional on its way to a tie for 11th showing at the NCAA Championship.

Under McDonald’s guidance, the Gamecocks have now earned five regional berths, with their best finish being a tie for second showing at the 2009 Southeast Regional. Carolina went on to finish 16th at the NCAA Championship that year.

2013 NCAA COLUMBUS REGIONALMay 16-18 - The OSU Golf Club - Columbus, Ohio1. New Mexico (Mountain West)2. Stanford3. Auburn4. South Carolina5. Missouri6. UNLV7. Texas Tech8. Chattanooga (Southern)9. Georgia Southern10. San Francisco11. Virginia12. Charlotte (Atlantic 10)13. Valparaiso (Horizon League)
Individuals1. Scott Fernandez, Iowa State2. Robin Sciot Siegrist, Louisville3. Chris Selfridge, Toledo4. Charlie Bull, Akron5. Adam Schenk, Purdue6. Matthew Moseley, Michigan State7. Nathan Kerns, Marshall8. Erik Van Rooyen, Minnesota9. Korey Ward, Xavier10. David Tepe, Cincinnati