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May 19, 2009

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

SPORTS DESK - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Western Washington University hosts the 47th annual NCAA Division II National Men's Golf Tournament beginning Tuesday, May 19, through Friday, May 22, at the Loomis Trail Golf Club in Blaine.

It is the school's first time hosting a national tournament.

Twenty teams and eight individuals from non-qualifying teams, including Western Washington's Jake Koppenberg, will participate in the four-day, 72 hole event. Admission is free.

Representing the East and Atlantic regions are super regional titlist Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Fayetteville State, Concord, Fairmont State and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Super regional champion Wayne State, Northeastern State, Central Missouri, Ferris State and Indianapolis represent the Midwest and South Central regions, while super regional winner North Alabama, Lynn, Barry, Columbus State and Georgia College qualified from the South and Southeast regions.

Colorado-Colorado Springs, Cal State Stanislaus, Sonoma State, Cal State San Bernardino and Grand Canyon represent the Central and West regions.

The top individual back from last year is Jarid Todd from Sonoma State. Todd was the NCAA II Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008. Todd tied for third at nationals last spring.

Bill Wright

In the West/Central Super Regional, Koppenberg had a birdie on the first extra hole of a five-person playoff to earn the second and final berth granted to players not on a qualifying team. The senior tied for 28th at nationals last year.

West Florida won the title last year in a three-way playoff against North Alabama and St. Edwards.

Bill Wright, one of the first seven inductees into the WWU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1968, was the keynote speaker at the tip-off banquet Monday at the Semiahmoo Resort.

It was 50 years ago that Wright won the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, becoming the first African American to capture a United States Golf Association-sponsored national title. United States Golf Association president Jim Vernon presented a scroll to Wright to commemorate that achievement.