INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Sioux Falls Men's Golf Team has made history in 2021 and a strong performance all spring has resulted in the program's first-ever selection to the NCAA Division II Central Regional.
 
The USF Men's Golf Team was selected seventh in the region and is in the field of 64 teams and 24 student-athletes competing as individuals that have been selected to participate in regional competition of the 2021 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships. Regional play will be conducted May 6-8.  The Central Region Tournament will be held at Shoal Creek Golf Course in Kansas City, Mo.
 
USF Head Coach Tavia Rutherford and Assistant Coach Brennan Thompson were pleased with the announcement as it rewarded a team that has played exceptional all spring.
 
"Coach Brennan (Thompson) and I are extremely proud of the men's squad for being selected to regionals for the first time in the program's Division II history," said Rutherford. "Our senior leadership stepped up and committed to our game plan that we set at the beginning of the spring. We put a lot of miles on the van to ensure the best strength of schedule and all five guys shared in the success of each tournament. We look forward to prepping for Shoal Creek this upcoming week," she said.
 
"The guys absolutely deserve this as they are the best team the University has fielded. The addition of Gavin (Metz) to an already elite squad made this possible. This makes the late nights, long drives and emotional roller coasts all worth it. I am especially proud of JJ (Cooney) and Brenden (Bassing) for returning and leading this squad to this place. They persevered through difficult years. While we are happy with the selection, we are going into the regional tournament with the goal of being able to board a flight to Florida in mid-May," said Thompson.

Tournaments will be conducted at four regional sites including the Central/Midwest Regional, which will be held Shoal Creek Golf Club in Kansas City, Mo. William Jewell College and the Kansas City Sports Commission, will host the tournament.
 
The eight teams selected for the Central Region included --

1. Central Missouri (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association champion)
2. Arkansas Tech University (Great American Conference champion)
3. Henderson State
4. Washburn
5. Missouri Western State
6. Southwest Oklahoma State
7. Sioux Falls
8. Winona State (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference champion)  

 
Led by the all-tourney performance of Gavin Metz (3^rd overall), USF recently recorded a sixth straight top-five finish this spring by placing third at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Men's Championships at Shoal Creek Golf Club. USF, which finished with a 34-over par 886 (308, 286-291), was just behind champion Winona State at 31-over par 883 (301-294-288).

Over the final two rounds, USF's total of 577 was the best by any team. USF tied its second best finish in school history with only the second place finish in 2015 better. The 2013 team at USF was also third. For the first time, USF placed all five golfers in the top-20 (actually top-17) with Metz and Brenden Bassing finishing in the top 10. With his third place finish, Metz recorded the program's best NSIC individual finish (JJ Cooney, 6^th, 2018). Previously the most USF had in the top 20 was three in both 2013 and 2015. US had its second straight (no NSIC tourney in 2020) top five finish at the league championships after placing fifth in 2019. USF was led today by sophomore Gavin Metz who carded a three-over par 216 (75-68-73) and earned NSIC All-Tourney honors. Brenden Bassing was 10^th with a 10-over par 223 (77-72-74). Junior Jack Evans placed third at 12-over par 225 (81-70-74). Both Jacob Zosel (76-79-73) and JJ Cooney (81-76-71) finished 15-over par 228. JJ Cooney is USF's first-ever men's golfer to earn four top-20 finishes at an NSIC Tournament.

The top four teams from each super regional and the top individual not with a team from each super regional will advance to the finals May 17-21 at PGA National Resort; The Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The finals will be hosted by Palm Beach Atlantic University and Palm Beach County Sports Commission.