MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A fifth-place finish at last week’s Big 12 Conference Tournament has propelled the WVU golf team into NCAA Regional competition. The Mountaineers were awarded an at-large spot in the Rancho Santa Fe Regional Wednesday afternoon. The NCAA Tournament bid is the program’s first since 2019. The Rancho Sante Fe Regional at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. will be played May 13-15.
The San Diego Regional was the last to be unveiled on the GolfChannel Selection Show broadcast.
“This year never felt like we were in,” said WVU head coach Sean Covich. “Even until the last two seconds. I felt like we were going to be in based on how we finished at the Big 12’s and based on how we played at home, and based on the rankings. But you just never know. That’s why I was so emotional. You realize how hard it is with so many great players and great programs.”
“I think we were all nervous and sweating a little bit,” said Max Green. But we got it done. So now we can get prepared for the next two weeks and go to San Diego.
West Virginia climbed the leaderboard over the final three rounds of last week’s Big 12 Tournament in Trinity, Texas to earn their best finish in program history at the event. The Mountaineers placed fifth out of 14 teams and scored better than a handful of nationally-ranked opponents.
“We all just kind of came together as a team, not just one but all five of us stepped up when it mattered,” said Todd Duncan.
Max Green, Shady Spring High School graduate Todd Duncan, Jackson Davenport, Pierce Grieve and Kaleb Wilson comprised WVU’s five-man team at the Big 12 Tournament. Previously, West Virginia cruised to victory in their final regular season event, the Mountaineer Invitational at Pete Dye Golf Club.
In 2019, the Mountaineers narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA National Championships. WVU finished sixth in the Louisville Regional, falling two shots short of advancing.
The WVU golf team has earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. They are the No. 10 seed in the Rancho Santa Fe Regional hosted by San Diego (May 13-15): pic.twitter.com/OHQ7AO3y8c
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) May 1, 2024
81 teams have qualified for play in six regionals across the country. 30 teams earned automatic bids. WVU will be joined in the Rancho Santa Fe Regional by Arizona State, Washington, Oklahoma, California, Oklahoma State, North Florida, Chattanooga, South Florida, San Diego, Kansas, Wright State, Seton Hall and Winthrop.
The top five teams in each regional advance to the National Championship at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. from May 24-29.