For Immediate Release: May 10, 2011
Contact: Kevin Solan (sports1@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6478

Senior golfer Jake Katz earns historic individual NCAA bid
Katz named one of 45 individual participants to the 2011 NCAA Regionals

NCAA Selection Release

VESTAL, N.Y. -- One of the finest individual seasons in Division I collegiate golf culminated with a bid to the 2011 NCAA Regionals as senior Jake Katz was named to the 45-man individual participant list Monday evening.

A two-time America Sky Player of the Year, Katz was selected as one of 45 players to receive an individual bid to this year's event. He was the third individual chosen out of 10 to compete in the Virginia Tech Region, which will be held May 19-21 at the Pete Dye River Course at Virginia Tech, located in Radford, Va.

"It's a great situation for our golf program," head coach Bernie Herceg said. "We are trying to build our team to be one of the top programs in the Northeast and this just shows that a Binghamton Bearcat can play in the NCAA Tournament. Jake is a well deserving candidate. He has proven throughout the year that he should be there and he's the best player to come out of Binghamton University. Through his hard work and dedication towards golf, he has earned this remarkable accomplishment to compete amongst the elite golfers in the country."

The golf committee selects a total of 81 teams and 45 individuals not on those teams for participation at six 54-hole regional tournaments. The regional sites will determine the 30 qualifying teams and six individuals not on those qualifying teams to compete in the finals. Three regions will have 13 teams and ten individuals not on those teams while the other three sites will have 14 teams and five individuals not on those teams.

A variety of factors are used in determining the selection of individuals for the NCAA Regionals. The primary criteria used by the committee is a combination of NCAA/Golfstat ranking indexes, head-to-head win/loss record and strength of schedule. Katz finished the season ranked No. 111 by Golfstat and No. 208 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Index.

The Binghamton University golf program has made 11 appearances in the NCAA Championship in program history. However, the 11 appearances between 1992 and 2005 were made as a team competing in the championship. Katz's selection marks the first individual bid to the NCAA Championship in school history.

In a sparkling senior season, Katz defeated more than 95% of his opponents and posted a staggering 899-37-18 record in head-to-head competition. He collected nine top-10 finishes, five runner-up performances and an individual title at the Cornell Invitational. He holds the program record for the lowest career scoring average (74.29) and ranks second all-time in top-10 finishes with 25.