April 27, 2007

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - A rite of spring continues for the Western Washington University men's golf team as for the ninth straight year since becoming a full member of NCAA Division II it will be competing in the West Regional. The Vikings have been selected as the No.5 seed in the 54-hole event, which takes place May 7-9 at the Fox Hollow Golf Course in Lakewood, Colo.

The tournament is being held in conjunction with the Northwest Regional as one of five super regionals taking place across the country. The co-hosts are Colorado School of Mines and Regis University.

Each regional is composed of eight schools and five additional individuals from non-qualifying schools. The winning school in each region earns an automatic berth to the NCAA II National Championships at Allendale, MI (The Meadows) on May 22-25. The next three teams in the West/Northwest Super Regional also qualify for at-large berths at nationals. In addition, the top individual in each Super Regional from schools not qualifying earns a national berth.

Cal State Stanislaus is the No.1 seed in the West Regional, followed by No.2 Grand Canyon, No.3 Sonoma State, No.4 Cal State San Bernardino, Western, No.6 Chico State, No.7 UC San Diego and No.8 Hawaii Hilo. In the latest Golf World/Nike Golf Division II Coaches Poll, Cal State Stanislaus is No.9, Cal State San Bernardino No.20 and Grand Canyon No. 24.

"I believe any one of six teams could potentially win this thing," said Western coach Steve Card (14th year). "If we are to have a chance, we've got to play more consistent golf ... We're starting to get back to where we were at the start of the year."

Last spring in one of the most incredible final rounds in West Regional history, the Vikings finished sixth after being second with three holes to play and did not get an automatic or at-large berth to nationals. Four strokes separated the top five teams with Cal State Bakersfield, which has since moved up to the Division I ranks, hanging on to win the title by one shot.

The Vikings' only win this season came at its own invitational last fall. They placed third in their season debut at the Saint Martin's Invitational and ended the regular season with a strong sixth-place finish among 17 teams at the Cal State Stanislaus Invitational.

"We're playing very well at this point," Card said. "In golf, teams can improve overnight and for that reason we're excited. We're in the post-season and although it may sound like a cliché, it's a new season for us."

Western is led by Sean Packer (Jr., Sumner/Auburn-Riverside), who is making his third regional trip. Last year, he tied for sixth and went on to tie for 35th at nationals.

Packer, who leads the team with a 73.9 scoring average, has three top 10 finishes this season in nine regular-season tournaments.

Joining Packer will be Julian Peters (R-Fr., Mukilteo/Kamiak) (74.8), Bart Patitucci (Fr., Othello) (75.2), and Tommy Bullock (So., Mukilteo/Kamiak) (76.5).

The last spot on the Vikings' travel roster will be either Richard Choi (Fr., Abbotsford, B.C./MEI) (75.1) or Sam Pauley (Sr., Everett/Kamiak/Everett CC) (75.2), who went to regionals last year.