FERRIS TO HOST 2007 NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S GOLF EAST REGIONAL

Ferris State University has been selected as the host for the 2007 NCAA Division II Women's Golf East Regional, which will be held April 30-May 2 at FSU's Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, Mich.

The regional tournament host selection of Ferris State represents the second time in the program's history in which FSU will host a women's golf event on the regional level. The Bulldogs received their first-ever regional host bid in 2004 and went on to capture the 2004 NCAA-II East Regional championship (May 4-5) with a first-place three-round 963-stroke total in the six-team field. Ferris would advance to the 2004 NCAA-II Championships (May 12-15) in Longwood, Fla., and registered a second-place tying 1,264 team score in the 72-hole event.

"We're honored to be hosting a regional tournament once again," said FSU eighth-year head coach Brad Bedortha. "It's a great opportunity to showcase our university and its top-notch facilities. The improvements made to Katke (Golf Course) over the last two years should enhance the level of competition and make this regional a challenging one for the ladies.

"I believe all of the positive comments we received as (regional) hosts back in 2004 also had a lot to do with us getting the bid," added Bedortha, who guided Ferris State to a second-place finish at the 2006 NCAA-II National Championships (May 10-13) with a three-round 925 team stroke total.

The regional tournament will begin with a practice round Sunday, April 29 on the par 72, 5,980-yard Katke Golf Course. The 2007 NCAA-II East Regional officially starts Monday, April 30, with the opening round commencing at 9 a.m. (EDT). Tee times for the second round (May 1) and the final round (May 2) are also scheduled for 9 a.m. (EDT).

Three other NCAA-II Regionals will be held in conjunction with the East Regional to determine the eighth annual national championship field, which will be held May 9-12 at the Stonebrook Country Club in Pensacola, Fla. The University of North Florida will serve as the tourney host. The North Regional will take place April 30-May 2 at the Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo, Iowa with the University of Upper Iowa hosting. The site for the South Regional is the The Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland, Fla., from April 30-May 2 with the host being Florida Southern College. The West Regional, hosted by St. Edward's University, will be conducted April 29-May 1 at The Golf Club at Circle C in Austin, Texas.

Regional tournaments are considered preliminary rounds of the NCAA championships competition, and all national championships policies will apply. Each regional will consist of both teams and individual competition conducted concurrently. All participants will compete throughout the 54 holes of competition with 18 holes scheduled for each day from April 30-May 2. The top two teams along with the top individuals not affiliated with a regional-participating team will advance to the 2007 NCAA-II National Championship tournament.

Ferris State took runner-up honors at the 2006 NCAA-II East Regional (May 1-2) in Findlay, Ohio, as a result of carding a three-round 973 team score.