May 7, 2002

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest men¡¦s golf team has earned a berth in the 2002 NCAA Championships, as announced by the NCAA this week. Ranked second nationally, the Demon Deacon¡¦s championship run begins next weekend with regional tournament action.

Wake Forest will travel to Roswell, Ga. to compete in the NCAA East Regional, held at Ansley Golf Club¡¦s Settin¡¦ Down Creek. Georgia Tech will serve as host of the 54-hole tournament, which runs Thursday, May 16 to Saturday, May 18. The East Regional, like its counterparts in the Central (Little Rock, Ark.) and West (Albuquerque, N.M.), features 27 teams and six individuals competing for 10 team slots and two individual slots which advance to the championships. The NCAA Men¡¦s Championships takes place at the Ohio State University Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio from May 29- June 1.

Wake Forest will compete in a tough regional field, as eight of the top 20 teams in the GCAA/Precept Coaches Poll will compete in the East, including four of the top five squads. The Yellow Jackets, currently ranked No. 1, are the top seed in the East, followed by Florida and Tennessee, who are ranked fifth and ninth in the poll. Wake Forest is the fourth seed, just ahead of Clemson. The Deacs and the Tigers are currently tied for second in the poll.

Wake Forest men¡¦s golf has a long NCAA championship history, having captured three NCAA team titles (1974, ¡¥75 and ¡¥86). Additionally, four former Deacons have pocketed five NCAA individual championships ¡V Arnold Palmer (1949, ¡¥50), Curtis Strange (1974), Jay Haas (1975) and Gary Hallberg (1979). WFU has made 41 trips to the NCAAs, including a streak of 32 straight appearances from 1962 to ¡¥98. Under the guidance of head coach and former WFU player Jerry Haas, the Deacs returned their entire roster from a squad that posted a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Championships last season.

A full listing of all teams and individuals selected for each of the three regions can be found at www.NCAAChampionships.com.