Men's Golf Heads South For First NCAA Appearance

Complete Postseason Notes (PDF).

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Tournament Information.

EMU MAKES FIRST NCAA APPEARANCE: The Eastern Michigan University men’s golf team earned a bid to the NCAA East Regional to be played at The Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta, Ga., May 17-19. The Eagles will be making their first NCAA Regional appearance after winning the Mid-American Conference Championship last weekend, May 3-5, at The Medallion Club in Westerville, Ohio.

Nine of the nation’s top 25 teams in the Golfweek rankings are in the East Regional, including No. 1 Georgia, No. 7 Florida, No. 10 Georgia Tech, No. 11 Clemson, No. 12 Coastal Carolina, No. 20 Charlotte, No. 23 North Carolina, No. 24 Duke and No. 25 Florida State.

Eastern Michigan is led by Mid-American Conference Golfer of the Year Graham Hill, who became the first EMU student-athlete to claim medalist honors in the 60-year history of the conference tournament. In 34 rounds this season, Hill averaged 72.2 strokes per round, the lowest scoring average on the squad and the fourth best in the MAC. He has placed in the top 25 in every tournament but one this season, including five top five showings.

While the complete team will be making its first postseason appearance, head coach Bruce Cunningham is accustomed to the NCAA experience. Former EMU great Korey Mahoney qualified as an individual in both the 2005 and 2006 championships. Prior to Mahoney’s appearances, Bob McNiff qualified for the event in 1985, while Marc Dingman made back-to-back appearances in the 1981 and 1982 regional championships.

The East Regional teams in order of seeding include No. 1 Georgia, No. 11 Clemson, No. 7 Florida, No. 12 Coastal Carolina, No. 10 Georgia Tech, Georgia State, No. 20 Charlotte, No. 23 North Carolina, No. 25 Florida State, No. 24 Duke, Auburn, Ole Miss, Chattanooga, UAB, Central Florida, Virginia Tech, Penn State, Old Dominion, Jacksonville State and Louisiana-Lafayette to round out the top 20. St. John's is the 21st-seed followed by EMU, Maryland, Longwood, Rhode Island, Hartford and Boston College.

The NCAA East Regional will be played at The Golf Club of Georgia's Lakeside Course, a 7,017-yard, par 72 layout with demanding, firm and fast greens. It was honored in 1991 by Golf Digest as "Best New Private Course" in America and annually hosts The United States Collegiate Championship. In 1999, Golf Digest honored Lakeside's par-5, 607-yard 11th hole as one of "America's Best 99 Golf Holes."

The top 10 teams and two individuals not on those teams qualify for the 110th NCAA Men's Golf Championship at the Golden Horseshoe in Williamsburg, Va., May 30-June 2.

Hill Named Golf World Player of the Week: Graham Hill has been named the male college Player of the Week in this week’s issue of Golf World Magazine.

Hill won the Mid-American Conference individual championship Saturday, May 5, at The Medallion Club in Westerville, Ohio. The Brights Grove, Ontario native compiled a 277 (70-71-67-69) to cruise to the four stoke victory. Hill’s win marks the first time an EMU student-athlete has claimed medalist honors in the 60-year history of the conference tournament. He also helped lead EMU to its first-ever MAC title.

Hills’s victory was the fourth win of his career and the second this season. Following the event, he was selected the MAC’s Golf of the Year joining Korey Mahoney as the only EMU players to collect the awards since its inception in 1994. Hill was also named first team All-MAC and selected to the All-Tournament squad.

In 34 rounds this season, Hill averaged 72.2 strokes per round, the lowest scoring average on the squad and the best in the MAC. He has place in the top 25 in every tournament but one this season, including five top five showings.

EMU Racks Up the Postseason Awards: Fresh off the its first-ever conference title at the 2007 Mid-American Conference Men’s Golf Championship, Eastern Michigan University picked up a quartet of postseason awards to cap a stellar weekend. Head coach Bruce Cunningham was selected the MAC Coach of the Year while junior Graham Hill was named the MAC’s Golfer of the Year. Senior Bryan Haase Bryan Haase and Chris Ross garnered second team All-MAC honors while Hill claimed first team All-MAC accolades.
Bruce Cunningham, who in his 12th season as the Eagles’ mentor, earned Coach of the Year honors for the first time in his career. He is just the second EMU coach to capture the honor and the first since EMU Hall of Famer Jim Nelson did so during the 1980 season.
Besides guiding the Green and White to a record-setting performance at the MAC Championships, Cunningham has now finished in the top five in each of the last five MAC Championships. He also helped the team’s stroke average improve each year since he took over the reins.
Graham Hill is the second consecutive Eagle to be named the MAC Golfer of the Year, joining Korey Mahoney as the only EMU players to collect the awards since its inception in 1994. The Brights Grove, Ontario native was also named first team All-MAC and selected to the All-Tournament squad.
In 34 rounds this season, Hill averaged 72.2 strokes per round, the lowest scoring average on the squad and the best in the MAC. He has place in the top 25 in every tournament but one this season, including five top five showings. At the MAC Championship, May 3-5, Hill compiled a 277 (70-71-67-69) to cruise to the four stoke victory. His win marked the first time an EMU student-athlete has claimed medalist honors in the 60-year history of the conference tournament.
Hill tied for medalist honors at the First Energy Intercollegiate, April 28-29, with a one-under 215 (70-71-74) but lost the title in a playoff. He also tied for third at the Hoya Invitational with a 147 (72-75) and placed fourth at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate with an even-par 216 (75-72-69). The transfer from Indiana (Pa.) carded a one-under 212 (71-70-71) at the Wolverine Intercollegiate for a fifth place showing and tied for sixth at the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate with a 223 (78-77-68).

Chris Ross, the MAC’s 2006 Freshman of the Year, followed up his first season in Ypsilanti with another strong season en route to second team All-MAC and All-Tournament mentions. The Dundas, Ontario native played in all 12 tournaments this season, with an average of 74.0 strokes per round. Ross claimed medalist honors and led the Eagles to a first-place finish at the Cleveland State Invitational by firing a 146 (74-72), Sept. 11-12, 2006. For his performance he was named MAC Golfer of the Week for the period ending Sept. 12. At the MAC Championship, Ross recorded a three-under 285 (71-72-70-72) to tie for fourth and earned his fifth top 20 showing of the season.
Earning All-MAC honors for the first-time in his career, Bryan Haase averaged 73.8 strokes per round, good for second best on the team. The Interlochen, Mich. native finished a season-best seven-under par at the Xavier Invitational with a three round score of 209 (66-70-73). At the MAC Championship, Haase recorded an even-par 288 (72-71-70-75) to tie for ninth place. On the season, he has finished in the top 25 seven times including finishing 16th at the Wexford Plantation Invitational and 21st at the Fossum Invitational.

Men’s Golf Rolls to First MAC Title: The Eastern Michigan University men’s golf team recorded its first-ever conference championship by winning the 2007 Mid-American Conference Championships Saturday afternoon here at the par-72, 7,216 yard Medallion Club. Junior Graham Hill compiled a 277 (70-71-67-69) to cruise to the four stoke victory. Hill’s win marks the first time an EMU student-athlete has claimed medalist honors in the 60-year history of the conference tournament.
With the win, the Eagles capture the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals, May 17-19, at a site to be determined. The win was the Eagles’ second of the year and the first since the squad claimed the title at the Cleveland State Invitational, Sept. 11-12, 2006.
Overall, the championship marks the sixth MAC team title that EMU has won during the 2006-07 campaign. Other EMU sports to claim the conference’s top spot this year include: women’s gymnastics, men’s swimming and diving, women’s swimming and diving, men’s cross country and men’s indoor track.
Eastern Michigan ended Kent State’s two-year reign as conference champions. The Golden Flashes finished in third place with a 72-hole total of 1147 while Akron came in second with a score of 1141.
Heading into Saturday’s final 18 holes, the Zips held a five stroke lead over the Eagles. However, that all changed as EMU finished the final round at one-over par 289 while UA carded a nine-over 297. For the tournament, the Green and White fired a 1138 (285-290-274-289) to equal the school-record for the best 72 hole tournament total previously set during the 2005 championship also held at the Medallion Club.
Hill won the tournament with a score of 277 (70-71-67-69) and was an All-Conference honoree. It is the fourth win of his career and the second this season.
Sophomore Chris Ross tied for fourth place with a three-under 285 (71-72-70-72) to also earn All-Tournament accolades. Senior Bryan Haase finished at even-par with a 288 (72-71-70-75) and freshman Cam Burke added a 292 (72-76-67-77). Redshirt freshman Brandon Lemons finished in a tie for 30th after shooting a 298 (74-78-73-73).

HILL SELECTED MAC SCHOLAR ATHLETE: Junior Graham Hill was named Mid-American Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Week for the week ending May 3, the conference office announced today. The weekly scholastic award is the first for Hill.

The MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week honor is presented to a MAC male and female student-athlete who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and performs well during that week’s competition. The winners are selected by a group of the conference’s faculty athletic representatives. Hill, who boasts a 3.52 GPA as a finance major, tied for medalist honors at the prestigious FirstEnergy Intercollegiate Golf Tournament held at Firestone North Country Club, April 27-30, in Akron, Ohio. Hill went on to lose in a four-round playoff. Hill’s three-round total of 70-71-74 was one under and helped his EMU team finish fourth overall with an 877 in the 17-team field. Hill tied for medalist honors with Charlotte’s Stefan Wiedergruen and Miami’s Ren Wood.

Hill Ties for First at FirstEnergy Intercollegiate: Junior Graham Hill, UNC Charlotte’s Stefan Wiedergruen and Miami’s Ben Wood each carded a one-under 215 during the 54-hole FirstEnergy Intercollegiate Sunday afternoon on the par-72, 7,125 yard North Course at Firestone Country Club. With a three-way tie atop the leader board, the trio needed a playoff to determine the individual medalist. Wood eventually prevailed after outlasting the two competitors through four additional holes.
As a team the Eagles finished in fourth place with a 13-over 877 (285-299-293). Eastern Kentucky won the event at four-over 868 while host Akron placed second at five-over 869. The field included four other Mid-American Conference schools: Bowling Green, Ohio, Northern Illinois and Ball State

Sophomore Chris Ross and senior Bryan Haase tied for 28th place with a seven-over 233. Redshirt freshman Brandon Lemons carded a 266 (73-76-77) for a 34th place showing while freshman Cam Burke managed a 227 (80-74-73) for a 37th place. Playing as an individual junior Joey Stimac tied for 33rd with a three round score of 222 (73-77-72).

Men’s Golf Earns Academic Honor: The Eastern Michigan University men’s golf program was recognized by the NCAA Thursday, April 26, for ranking among the nation’s top 10 percent in the latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) report. The Eagles were one of four men’s golf teams from the Mid-American Conference to be given the accolade.

The NCAA is honoring more than 800 Division I sports teams with public recognition awards for their latest Academic Progress Rate scores. The public recognition awards are part of the broad Division I academic reform effort.

The 839 teams receiving awards this year represent 217 Division I colleges and universities, or two-thirds of the 326 institutions that compete in NCAA Division I athletics. High-performing teams receiving awards posted APR scores ranging from 975 to a perfect 1,000, said NCAA President Myles Brand.

"These teams prove once again that student-athletes are students first, and many of them are excellent students," Brand said. "I want to personally congratulate these teams and their student-athletes who are working hard in their sport and in the classroom and setting a great example for all students."

Of the teams receiving awards for their latest academic performance are 366 men’s and mixed teams and 473 women’s teams. The men’s sports with the highest number of teams garnering public recognition are golf (51), cross country (49) and tennis (40). The women’s sports with the highest number of teams receiving awards are tennis (64), volleyball (54) and golf (52).

Last year, a total of 1,048 teams were recognized. There are fewer awards this year than last year because there are fewer teams with perfect scores. The number of teams in some sports may exceed 10 percent depending on how many achieved perfect 1,000 APR scores.

Men’s Golf Finishes Fifth at Fossum Intercollegiate: The EMU men’s golf team shot a final-round score of 290 today to finish in fifth place at the 39th Annual Fossum Invitational, hosted by Michigan State at the par 72, 7,013-yard Forest Akers West Golf Course. The Eagles ended the weekend with a three-round total of 863 strokes (283-290-290), marking the EMU’s second best 54-hole team score of the season. The Green and White finished fifth out of 13 teams to tie its highest finish in six tournaments this spring.
Tournament host and No. 29 Michigan State won the tournament by 14 strokes over Charlotte after firing rounds of 279-284-278 (841). Matt Harmon (MSU), Jason Kokrak (Xavier) and Jack Newman (MSU) shared medalist honors after shooting a 10-under par 206.

Junior Graham Hill and freshman Cam Burke placed the attack for Eastern as the duo tied for 16th place with a three round total of 215. Hill carded a 73 for the second consecutive round after posting a 69 during the opening 18 holes. The Brights Grove, Ontario native’s total is his third lowest tournament of the 2006-07 campaign, only bettered by his 212 at both the Wolverine Intercollegiate (Oct. 2-3, 2006) and the Xavier Invitational (Oct. 21-22, 2006).

Burke had a breakout invitational for the Eagles, leading the tournament during the first two rounds to record a career-best 18, 36 and 54 hole score. During the opening 18 holes, the Baden, Ontario native fired a 64 to tie former EMU great Korey Mahoney for the lowest single round score in EMU history. The score set the Fossum Invitational record for lowest 36 hole total, tying the mark of 135 set by Ohio State University’s John Cook in 1978. His score of 64 also tied for the lowest round in tournament history, equaling the marks of Northwestern University’s Luke Donald and Chris Thayer in 2001. Overall, Burke’s final score of 215 bested his previous 54 hole score of 222 at the UALR/First Tee Collegiate (March 22-23).

Senior Bryan Haase was EMU’s third finisher, tying for 21st with a score of 217 (73-71-73). Redshirt freshman Brandon Lemons tied for 43rd at 223 (77-75-71) while sophomore Chris Ross rounded out the lineup, finishing 52nd at 225 (77-75-73).

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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