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Eagles become first-ever program to earn a NCAA Tournament at-large postseason berth.

The FGCU men's golf team made history on Wednesday afternoon as the first program in the department's history to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles were selected as the ninth-seed in the Columbus Regional where they will compete at the Ohio State Golf Club from May 16-18.

 

"It was just remarkable to see our name up there today. I'm so proud of our guys – they've done everything the right way and have a terrific work ethic on the course and in the class," said head coach Andrew Danna. "This was certainly a special moment and I'm excited that they have this opportunity. We are looking forward to competing in the NCAA Tournament."

 

The Eagles were one of the last program's out of the 2021 NCAA Tournament after jumping from No. 257 in the 2019-20 GolfStat rankings to No. 65 to close out the 2021 campaign. In 2022, FGCU was the runner-up at the ASUN Championship for the second straight season, picked up two team tournament wins, and enters the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 51 in the most current GolfStat rankings.

 

This also marks the first time the Eagles have qualified for the NCAA Tournament as a team after having previously sent four individuals to the NCAA Regionals: Brandon Pena (2012), Edward Figueroa (2013), Jake Sherwin (2015), and Van Holmgren (2021).

 

The Columbus Regional will be played on the Scarlet Course of the OSU Golf Club (Par 71, 7422 yards). The top five teams and the low individual not on those teams from each regional will then advance to the NCAA Tournament finals at the Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., from May 27-June 1.

 

FGCU has turned in a spectacular season in 2021-22 with wins at the Coral Creek Club Invitational and the Auburn Invitational while taking second at the Graeme McDowell Invitational, the Carolina Collegiate Invite, and the ASUN Championship. The Eagles also placed third at The Hayt and fifth at the Florida Gators Invitational.

 

Austin Cherichella leads the Green and Blue with a 72.00 scoring average, while Frankie Capan III, who was the individual winner at the Auburn Invitational, is second with a 72.17 scoring average. Pierre Viallaneix (72.33) and Jon Hopkins (72.47) round out the top four, while Brady Madsen (73.15) finishes out the line-up. Both Madsen and Capan have tied the program's low round record after shooting 64 during the season.

 

Ohio State Golf Club – Columbus, Ohio

Hosted by Ohio State

Teams (seeded in the following order):

1. Oklahoma State

2. Georgia Tech

3. Arkansas

4. Clemson

5. East Tennessee State

6. Ohio State

7. Duke

8. Northwestern

9. Florida Gulf Coast

10. San Francisco

11. Kentucky

12. Wright State

13. Southern Illinois

 

For complete coverage of FGCU men's golf, follow the Eagles on Twitter and Instagram (@FGCU_MGolf), Facebook (@FGCUAthletics), and online at www.FGCUAthletics.com. You can also sign-up to have news on FGCU men's golf and all 15 sport programs delivered directly to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.

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HEAD COACH ANDREW DANNA:

Danna is in his third year at the helm of the men's golf program with the Eagles earning FGCU's first-ever NCAA Tournament at-large berth in department history during the 2022 season. He has led the Eagles to second-place finishes at the 2021 and 2022 ASUN Championships and was named the program's first-ever ASUN Coach of the Year (2021) and repeated in 2022. One of the best turnarounds in NCAA history saw the Green and Blue, led by Van Holmgren who became the first player to earn PING All-Region honors, jump from No. 257 in the final 2019-20 GolfStat.com rankings to a then program-best 65 to close out 2020-21. The Eagles set a new program-best during the 2022 season at No. 47 in the GolfStat.com rankings. Holmgren won the ASUN Championship individual title to qualify for the NCAA Regionals. Before taking over in Fort Myers, he served the 2018-19 season as the assistant at LSU. Prior to that he was the ultra-successful head coach for six years at Lynn University where he led them to the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship and was, subsequently, chosen the David Williams National Coach of the Year. He also led the Fighting Knights to three national runner-up placements, with a third and eighth place finish in his other two seasons.

 

#FEEDFGCU

FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.

Original source can be found here.