The Loop
Conference call, April 25
Here is a look at this weekend's conference championships. Meanwhile, the teams selected for the Division I women's regionals will be announced Monday, April 28.
MEN__
[__
(For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Arizona National GC
Tucson
April 24-26__
Field:__ Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, TCU, UNLV, Utah, Wyoming__
Defending champion:__ BYU (six-under 846) by one stroke over UNLV; Robby Ormand, TCU (six-under 207) beat San Diego State's Adam Porzak in a playoff__
Skinny:__ Likely to be a two-team battle between San Diego State and UNLV. The Rebels have a better track record in the postseason, but you get the feeling Aaron Goldberg and company are ready to break through for the Aztecs.
[
(For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Forest Akers GC
East Lansing, Mich.
April 25-27
Field: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin
Defending champion: Michigan State and Minnesota (56-over 1,192); Pariya Junhasavasdikul, Purdue (one-over 285) by eight strokes over Minnesota's Bronson LaCassie
Skinny: The Spartans have the home-course advantage and have finished second in three of their last four tournaments. Biggest challenge will come from Indiana, where junior Jorge Campillo has won his last two starts.
[
(For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Whispering Pines GC
Trinity, Texas
April 25-27
Field: Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Defending champion: Oklahoma State (26-over 866) by seven strokes over Texas A&M; Pablo Martin, Oklahoma State (one-over 211) by three strokes over Oklahoma State's Ryan Posey
Skinny: Texas A&M is playing solid this spring, with the return of Bronson Burgoon and coach J.T. Higgins helping the team relax a bit more. The pain of missing the NCAA Championship last year is a pretty good motivation for this squad. Of course, there is some team, rhymes with Roklahoma State, that is likely to have a say in this too.
Disney's Magnolia GC
Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
April 25-27
Field: Canisius, Fairfield, Iona, Loyola (Md.), Manhattan, Niagara, Rider, Siena, St. Peter's
Defending champion: Siena (31-over 895) by eight strokes over Loyola (Md.); Will Shriver, Loyola (Md.) (two-under 214) in a playoff over Siena's Bryan Bigley
Skinny: Loyola is the class of the conference and should easily secure the automatic bid here.
Saucon Valley GC
Bethlehem, Pa.
April 26-27
Field: Army, Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh, Navy
Defending champion: Bucknell (43-over 883) by three strokes over Navy; Matt Czarnecki, Holy Cross (two-over 212) by one stroke over Navy's Chris Renninger
Skinny: No team in the field is ranked better than No. 201 in the most recent Golfstat rankings. Navy has that top ranking but in all honesty, this one is really anyone's to win (and anyone's guess as to who will come through).
__WOMEN
[__
(For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Penn State University GC
State College, Pa.
April 25-27__
Field:__ Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin__
Defending champion:__ Michigan State (36-over 1,188) by 13 strokes over Purdue; Rachel Meikle, Michigan State (four-under 284) by nine strokes over Purdue's Christel Boeljon__
Skinny:__ Purdue has plenty of momentum on its side and the best depth of any time in the conference. Michigan State will put up a fight to defend its title, but the Lady Boilermakers will prevail.
[
(For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Karsten Creek GC
Stillwater, Okla.
April 25-27
Field: Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Defending champion: Texas A&M (47-over 911) by five strokes over Oklahoma State; Amanda Costner, Kansas (five-over 221) by three strokes over Texas A&M's Ashley Knoll
Skinny: No team in college golf might have a bigger home course advantage than the Cowgirls at Karsten Creek. Add to that the fact that OSU has really separated itself from the rest of the conference bigwigs (specifically two-time defending champion Texas A&M) and there's no reason to think anyone else is the favorite.
[
(For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Brickyard Crossings
Indianapolis
April 25-27
Field: Ball State, Bowling Green State, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan
Defending champion: Kent State (51-over 1,203) by 49 strokes over Eastern Michigan; Kira Meixner, Kent State (seven-over 295) by four over Kent State's Tara Delaney
Skinny: The Golden Flashes are going for one for the other thumb, hoping to win a 10th straight MAC title. Unless they only play with four players, there's absolutely no reason to think they won't do it. The only question, really, is which Kent State player will take home medalist honors.
[
Lake Jovita G&CC
Dade City, Fla.
April 25-27
Field: Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU-Brooklyn, Monmouth, Mount St. Mary's, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (N.Y.), St. Francis (Pa.), Wagner
Defending champion: St. Francis (Pa.) (153-over 1,005) by 19 strokes over Central Connecticut State; Samantha Milosh, St. Francis (Pa.) (21-over 234) by nine strokes over Monmouth's Rylee Plitz
Skinny: Maybe you haven't heard of St. Francis (Pa.)'s Samantha Milosh, but the senior from Aliquippa, Pa., is clearly the best golfer in the conference and potentially could single-handedly help the Red Flash defend their team title.
