May 22, 2010
Results
SAN DIEGO - The No. 12 UNLV men's golf team finished in a third-place tie on Saturday and advanced to the NCAA Championship finals for the first time in four years. The Rebels shot a final-round 10-over-par 298 and finished the NCAA San Diego Regional, which was played at Carlton Oaks Golf Club (par 72, 7,360 yards), at 22-over 886.
Oregon won the team title at 6-over 870 after a final-round 2-under 286. The Ducks' final-round score tied for the lowest of the tournament. Augusta State finished second at 16-over, 10 shots back. California and Tennessee both tied with UNLV for third, as all five teams will move on to the finals, which are slated for June 1-6 at The Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tenn. UCF finished sixth at 29-over, failing to advance.
Cal State Northridge's Nick Delio, who played as an individual at the regional, won medalist honors at 3-under 213 after a final-round 1-over 73. Delio advanced to the finals as the individual out of the regional. Oregon's Daniel Miernicki finished second, one shot back at 2-under.
UNLV senior Eddie Olson led the way for the Rebels as he finished tied for third at 1-under 215 after shooting a final-round 74. Oregon's Isaiah Telles also tied for third. There was a three-way tie for fifth at even-par 216.
Other Rebel players: Colby Smith tied for 18th at 6-over 222 after a final-round 73, Derek Ernst tied for 33rd at 9-over 225 after a final-round 76, Kevin Penner tied for 45th at 11-over 227 after a final-round 76 and Brett Kanda tied for 57th at 15-over 231 after a final-round 75.
The NCAA Regionals were made up of six 54-hole tournaments that determined the 30 qualifying teams and six individuals not on those qualifying teams to advance to the finals. Thirteen teams and 10 individuals not on those teams competed at each of three regionals, including San Diego, while the other three regionals had 14 teams and five individuals not on those teams.
In UNLV's last appearance at the national finals, which was in 2006, it finished tied for 19th. UNLV won its only team national championship in men's golf in 1998 and finished second at the finals in 1996, which was its top finish before winning it all in 1998. The 2010 NCAA Championship will also mark UNLV's inclusion in the event for the third time in the last six seasons.
