FERRIS EARNS TOP SEED AT NCAA WOMEN'S GOLF EAST REGIONAL

The Ferris State University women's golf team will have an opportunity to defend its regional title from a season ago as the Bulldogs have received the top seed in the 2005 NCAA Division II East Regional, which will be held May 2-3 at Grand Valley State University's The Meadows Golf Course in Allendale, Mich. The announcement was made by the NCAA-II Women's Golf Committee.

The Bulldogs, who hosted last season's regional tournament for the first-time ever and were seeded sixth, captured their first-ever NCAA-II East Regional crown with a three-round 963 score (+99) on FSU's Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, Mich. Ferris then made its fourth national championship tourney appearance where the Bulldogs finished tied for second place at the 2004 NCAA-II Women's Golf Championships (May 12-15) in what represented the highest-placing ever for a FSU Women's Athletics team. The Bulldogs carded a final four-round 1,264-stroke total (+112) on The Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes course in Longwood, Fla.

Sophomore Casey McKinnon hopes to lead Ferris State to its second consecutive NCAA Division II East Regional title next week (May 2-3).

Ferris State, which is directed by sixth-year head coach Brad Bedortha, is joined in the East Regional Tournament field by Grand Valley State, Northern Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Northwood. Andrea Davis and Jenna Brown, both of Indianapolis, along with Findlay's Katie Weisenburger were also selected to compete in regional competition.

The four regionals (East, North, South and West) will consist of both teams and individual competition conducted concurrently and all participants will compete throughout the 54 holes of play. The regional will begin with 36 holes the opening day (May 2) and 18 holes (May 3) in final-round action. The top two teams and the top two individuals not affiliated with a team, from each regional, will advance to the championships. The 2005 NCAA-II Women's Golf Championships will be conducted May 11-14 at The Championships Course at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M., and will be hosted by Western New Mexico University. The championships will consist of both team and individual competition. All participants will compete throughout the entire 72 holes of competition. In the team competition, the low four scores for each team will count in each day’s total score. The number of participants allowed at the finals is 48.

In order to be considered for the national championships, teams and individuals must have played a minimum of 15 18-hole rounds including a minimum of four rounds in the spring. The individuals and teams were selected to the championships base upon a complete review if all the following criteria (within the region): head-to-head competition within regions; results versus common opponents; stoke differential; strength of schedule (number of teams in tournament, rounds of competition and overall strength of tournament fields); scoring average (adjusted scoring average and team and individual score versus par); spring results compared to fall results; and eligibility and availability of of student-athletes.

The 2005 NCAA Spring Seasonal Show, highlighting action from this year's NCAA Women's Golf Championships, will be shown Saturday, July 2, from 5 to 6 p.m. (EDT) on CBS.

East Region Teams
1. Ferris State
2. Grand Valley State
3. Northern Kentucky
4. Southern Indiana
5. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville
6. Northwood

East Region Individuals
1. Andrea Davis, Indianapolis
2. Katie Weisenburger, Findlay
3. Jenna Brown, Indianapolis