ROHNERT PARK, CALIF. - On Friday, April 28th, the 2023 NCAA men's golf regional selections were announced with the nationally ranked Sonoma State men's golf team earning the number two seed in the west region, in which they will belong to the NCAA DII South Central/West Regional. On top of earning the program's 10th straight NCAA regional appearance, the Seawolves will also play host to their second ever regional in program history. SSU has been an NCAA regional host three times now, twice with the men (2008, 2023) and once with the women in 2015. The Seawolves are two-time NCAA regional champions with their first regional title coming in 2008 at Adobe Creek Golf Course where the university was also the regional host.
SSU NCAA HISTORY
Despite just one top three team finish in the spring season, a dominant fall campaign and three 5th place team finishes in the spring allowed the Seawolves to secure the 2nd seed in the west region behind CCAA Champions Cal State San Marcos. The regional appearance goes down as the 10th straight for head coach
Val Verhunce and the program's 16th overall. SSU posts an impressive NCAA history with 8 national appearances and a National Championship in 2009, the university's third national title and first in men's golf history.
The program's last national championship appearance came in 2021 after receiving permission to compete in postseason play. A 3rd place regional finish qualified them for their first national championship appearance since 2019. That year, SSU golfer
Thomas Jenkins Jr. also became the third golfer in program history to win the individual medalist honor at the NCAA regional. The last Sonoma State golfer to win the regional was program great Jarin Todd who won back-to-back individual titles in 2009 and 2010.
2022-23 SEASON
This year, the Seawolves showed out in the fall season, placing in the top-5 of every tournament they competed in except one and also adding a team title in the NCAA West Regional Fall Preview. In the spring, they would record three top-5 finishes before the conference championships including a 2nd place finish in the NCAA West Regional Spring Preview edition. They would play their way to a 5th place finish at the CCAA Championships but are geared up for regional play, securing the 2nd seed in the West Region behind conference champ Cal State San Marcos.
Sonoma State is one of six CCAA teams representing the west region and will look to advance to the national championship for the first time since 2021. Seniors
Griffin Pace and
Jules Lavigne were given All-CCAA honors after the conference tournament, Pace earning First Team recognition for the second straight year and Lavigne earning Honorable Mention for his first All-CCAA honor of his career.
NCAA SOUTH CENTRAL/WEST REGIONAL INFORMATION:
Sonoma State hosts their third golf regional and second men's golf regional in school history. The tournament central page can be accessed below or at sonomaseawolves.com/golfregional
2023 NCAA South Central/West Regional Tournament Central
The regional kicks off on Thursday, May 11th at Foxtail Golf Club. Lodging, dining, and additional tournament information can all be found on the tournament central page. All 2023 NCAA men's golf regional selections can be found
HERE. Be sure to follow your Seawolves on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get all the latest SSU athletics updates and information. Sonoma State athletics also has launched a new fan app in partnership with From Now On. Download the free app today in both the Apple and Google Play stores by searching Sonoma State Seawolves in the app store. @SonomaSeawolves | #NomaNation
