Wednesday, April 25, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Great Northwest Athletic Conference will host the 2013 NCAA Division II Men's Golf West/South Central Regional at The Home Course in Dupont, Wash.

Serving as co-hosts along with the conference office are GNAC members Western Washington University and Saint Martin's University. The 54-hole event, scheduled for May 6-8, is also being supported by the Tacoma South Sound Sports Commission and the Washington State Golf Association.

A total of 108 student-athletes from the West and South Central regions will compete for an opportunity to advance to the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships May 20-24 in Hershey, Pa. Each region will qualify 10 teams, and eight additional golfers will be awarded at-large berths.

The top three teams and top two individuals not on a qualifying team will advance from each of the four regionals to the national championships. Eight additional teams will qualify from regionals based on a region's performance at the 2012 Division II men's golf championships.

“The GNAC is extremely excited and proud to be selected to host one of the four regionals next year,” said Dave Haglund, commissioner of the GNAC. “We have an outstanding venue in The Home Course, which served as the assisting course for the 2010 U.S. Amateur held at Chambers Bay, and we have formed an experienced local organizing committee to work in conjunction with the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Committee in staging this tournament.

“I'd like to thank Western Washington athletic director Lynda Goodrich and Saint Martin's athletic director Bob Grisham for their support of our bid. I'm looking forward to working closely with them, as well as WWU golf coach Steve Card and SMU golf coach Kevin Bishop, in creating a memorable experience for all of the participants,” Haglund added.

Said Tim Waer, CEO and president of Tacoma South Sound Sports: “We are extremely excited that The Home Course in Dupont was selected to be the host of the 2013 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Regional. The Home Course is one of the South Sound's premier venues for golf, and we look forward to assisting the organizing committee with its plans for this exceptional event."

The Home Course is situated on a bluff approximately 200 feet above Puget Sound and located approximately 17 miles south of Tacoma. The par 72 course measures more than 7,400 yards in length from the back tees. Players are treated to magnificent views of Mt. Rainier, the Olympic Range and Puget Sound.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to host the 2013 NCAA Division II Regionals,” said Troy Andrew, CEO of The Home Course. “We feel it will be a fair and enjoyable test for these talented collegiate golfers.”

In total, the event is expected to result in more than 400 hotel room-nights in the South Sound.