May 7, 2012
The NCAA announced today that University of Minnesota junior Erik Van Rooyen has been awarded one of 10 individual spots at one of six Men's Regional Golf Tournaments, played May 17-19.
Van Rooyen, who played in the NCAA's San Diego Regional last season, finishing in a tie for 51st place, will represent the Gophers in the Ann Arbor Regional at the University of Michigan Golf Course in Ann Arbor.
Thirteen teams and 10 individuals not on those teams will compete at each of three regionals while the other three regionals will have 14 teams and five individuals not on those teams. The low five teams and the low individual not on those teams from each regional will advance to the finals. The finals will be conducted May 29-June 1, at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Van Rooyen, who was recently named Second Team All-Big Ten, is coming off of his second consecutive top-10 finish at the Big Ten Championships with a seventh place finish in French Lick, Ind. Last season he earned All-Big Ten Championship Tournament Team honors following a third place finish.
A native of Oudtshoorn, South Africa, Van Rooyen led the Gophers in the fall and spring seasons in stroke average at 73.2 and 71.9, respectively. His combined stroke average of 72.6 this season is the 12-lowest in the history of Minnesota golf and is his lowest in the three seasons he has been at the U. His current career average of 73.77 is the ninth-lowest in Gopher Golf history.
Van Rooyen finished the regular season having posted three top-10 and six top-20 finishes in 10 tournaments, including a third place finish at the LSU Invitational in March.
NCAA Ann Arbor Regional Teams in order of Seeding: 1- USC, 2- Oregon, 3- Kent State, 4- Virginia, 5- Baylor, 6- Oklahoma State, 7- Kennesaw State, 8- TCU, 9- Purdue, 10- North Carolina State, 11- Notre Dame, 12- Ohio State, 13- Navy
NCAA Ann Arbor Regional Individuals: Erik Van Rooyen (Minnesota) ,Peter Williamson (Dartmouth), Matt Thompson (Michigan), Sebastian Maclean (Xavier), Dan Ellis (Michigan State), Tyler Merkel
(Ball State), Charlie Bull (Akron), Chad Ebert (UW Green Bay), William Park (Army) and Greg Matthias (Delaware)
-UM-
| Follow Gopher Golf: |
 |
|
 |
|
