The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
NCAA Stanford Regional
Men's Golf Team Advances To NCAA Nationals
5/19/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 19, 2012
NCAA Championship Blog | Final Results
PALO ALTO, Calif. - The UAB men's golf team has earned its fourth trip to NCAA Nationals after finishing in third place at the 2012 NCAA Stanford Regional with a team score of 10-under par 830 (278-274-278).
The Blazers are one of 30 teams (five from each of the six regionals) that are advancing to the national event, which will take place May 29-June 3 in Pacific Palisades, Calif. at the Riviera Country Club.
"I am simply thrilled," UAB head coach Alan Kaufman said. "The team has played really consistent all year. Time after time, we have had guys step up. We do not have a superstar on this team, but we have very good golfers. Everyone had to step up and that's what happened this week. I couldn't be more proud of this team."
This is first time since the 2008 season that UAB has earned a birth to the NCAA National Championship. Kaufman has coached the Blazers to each of their four national appearances.
The biggest reason the Blazers hung tough during Saturday's final 18 holes was the play of senior Jason Shufflebotham. The Presatyn, Wales native shot a four-under par 66 on the afternoon, which marked his lowest round of the spring season and the second-lowest score of his career.
Shufflebotham caught fire midway through his final round, recording five birdies during a six-hole stretch. He finished the event tied for 22nd overall with a one-under par 209 (72-71-66).
Redshirt sophomore Thomas Sutton led the Blazers during the three-day event as he tied for 10th overall with a career-low 54-hole score of four-under par 206 (68-66-72). The Montgomery, Ala. native recorded his third top-10 finish of the season and the fifth top-25 result of his career.
Freshman Paul Dunne carded a career-low 54-hole score with his even-par 210 (69-69-72) on the par-70, 6,747-yard Stanford University Golf Course. Dunne, who was selected to the Conference USA All-Freshman team, finished the event tied for 25th overall, marking his seventh top-25 result this season.
Junior Hunter Hawkins closed play tied for 27th overall with a one-over par 211 (69-74-68), while sophomore Sam Love rounded out the Blazers with a 217 (73-68-76).
Top-seeded California, which entered the regional ranked No. 2 in the nation, won the Stanford Regional with a team score of 25-under par 815. San Diego State, ranked No. 14 nationally, finished second with an 821. Regional host Stanford, ranked No. 8 nationally, finished fourth at 832, while C-USA member UCF rounded out the top five with an 835.
In all, five Conference USA teams from various regionals will advance to the national tournament, marking the most in league history. Joining the Blazers and the Knights are Memphis, Tulsa and East Carolina. The only conference to have more teams in the nationals is the Pac-12, which has six qualifiers.
