Tulane University
NCAA East Regional
Wheeler's NCAA Chance Still Alive Following NCAA Regional
May 21, 2005 | Men's Golf
May 21, 2005
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After shooting his third straight under par round at the NCAA East Regional Saturday at the Golf Club of Tennessee, Tulane's Chris Wheeler is in position to earn a berth in the NCAA Championships as an individual.
The senior from Allen, Texas posted a one-under par 70 in the final round on Saturday to finish the 54-hole tournament with a score of five-under par 208. That score leaves him tied for 14th in the individual standings after rounds of 69, 69 and 70. The top 10 teams and top two individuals who are not members of a qualifying team advance to the NCAA Championships June 1-4 at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md.
Green Wave sophomore Michael Thompson also fired a one-under par 70 Saturday, including an eagle on his final hole, to finish one stroke behind Wheeler at four-under par 209 after rounds of 70, 69 and 70. He was in a group of players tied for 16th. Thompson's 104-yard second shot on the par four ninth hole, his final hole of the day, dropped into the cup to provide the highlight of the day for the Tucson, Arizona native.
Wheeler's score left him ranked third among individuals who played on non-qualifying teams (or as an individual). However, the leading qualifier in that group, Rhys Davies of East Tennessee State, who finished second in the tournament with a score of 14-under par 199 with rounds of 66, 65 and 68, is a native of the British Isles who is committed to playing in the British Amateur on the same dates as the NCAA Championships. Davies will let NCAA officials know in the next 48-72 hours whether he intends to compete in the NCAA Championships or not. If he chooses not to attend, Wheeler would represent Tulane in Maryland.
"It would be so fitting for Chris, with everything he has meant to the program over the last four years, if he capped off his career by representing Tulane at the NCAA Championships," said Tulane Head Coach Tom Shaw. "He has played in every tournament for us and led this team for the last four years, and it would be great for him to be able to end it at the NCAAs."
Wheeler's round Saturday included seven birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey. After hitting double bogey on the par four 18th hole (his 9th hole of the day), he regrouped with four birdies on the last six holes on the par 71, 6,864-yard course. The senior missed graduation exercises in New Orleans in order to make his first appearance in the NCAA Regionals.
Thompson's eagle highlighted a day that included a pair of birdies and three bogeys. He also shot under par all three days in his first NCAA Regional appearance.
"Both guys got off to a strong start," Shaw said. "Playing in the same group, there was a lot of energy going between them early. Unfortunately they hit a lull in the middle of the round there, but both came back strong and finished well. In his last five holes, Chris had three birdies and then of course Michael finished with the eagle. It was a fun round to watch."
To Shaw, it was no surprise that his two stars finished just one stroke apart for the tournament as they ended the season with just three strokes separating them over 11 regular season outings.
"As close as they were all season, that's how they finished," Shaw said. "You figured one of them was not going to be too far out in front of the other, and that's what has made both of them so valuable to us for the last couple of years."
Wheeler and Thompson, who were both selected to play in the NCAA Regionals as individuals, are the first Tulane men's golfers to play in the NCAAs in at least 20 years. Shaw said that the experience of competing at the highest levels of collegiate golf cannot be matched.
"It was a fantastic experience for both of them," Shaw said. "I really wanted them to get a taste of what playing in an elite college golf tournament is all about. The NCAAs is the measuring stick for great college players, and they came in here and both made a statement that they belong. It's satisfying for Chris to end his college career this way, and it's very encouraging for Michael to show everyone that he belongs and to use it as a stepping stone for better things in years to come."
-- Roll Wave --
