CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State men's golf team will compete in the NCAA Men's Golf Championship Regional from Thursday through Saturday (May 14-16) at the par-72, 7,168-yard Gold Mountain G.C. in Bremerton, Wash.
The Vikings will be one of 14 teams competing with the top-five teams, plus the top individual finisher not on one of those five teams, advancing to the NCAA Championships from May 29-June 3 at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla.
This will be CSU's sixth appearance at the regionals in the last 10 years after the Vikings won the Horizon League Championship in Florida from April 24-26 by 10 shots over Oakland. CSU also played in the NCAA regionals in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2014.
The Vikings are the 13th seed in the region that includes top-seeded South Carolina and second-seeded and host Washington. USC is the third seed and is followed by Baylor, UAB, TCU, Iowa State, Sam Houston State, Michigan, California-Davis, VCU, Pepperdine, CSU and South Dakota.
As a team, the Vikings have three top-three finishes this year and are averaging 297.3, the second lowest scoring average in school history (296.8 in 2007-08).
THE CSU LINEUP
MICHAEL BALCAR
Senior
Toldeo, Ohio/Toledo St. John's
A first team All-Horizon League selection for the third straight season, Balcar will be playing in the NCAA regionals for the second straight year. At Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois last season, he tied for 31st place with rounds of 79-74-76 (229). Balcar has six top-20 finishes in his eight events this year, including a pair of top-five showings. He leads the team with nine rounds of par or better this year and has 27 for his career, tied for the third most in school history. Balcar ranks second in the Horizon League with a 72.9 scoring average - fourth lowest in a season in school history - and was tied for the lead after 54 holes of play at the league championship before falling in a playoff to finish as the runner-up. He is fourth in CSU history with a 74.7 scoring average.
JOEY KRECIC
Freshman
Columbia Station, Ohio/St. Edward's
Krecic has had a strong first season for the Vikings, ranking second on the team with a 75.6 scoring average. He has played in all but one event this year and has two top-10 finishes and four top-20's. In his first collegiate event, Krecic placed eighth at the Turning Stone Tiger Intercollegiate and shot a season-low round of 69 in his first round of the spring at the Wexford Intercollegiate, one of his two rounds of par or better this season. He tied for 19th place at the Horizon League Championship.
PAT LUTH
Sophomore
Medina, Ohio/Medina
Luth will be playing in the NCAA regionals for the second time in as many seasons for CSU. At last year's regionals, Luth carded rounds of 81-77-74 (232) to tie for 40th place at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois. He is one of two players to play in all 28 rounds this year and is tied for fourth on the team with a 75.8 scoring average. Luth has three rounds of par or better this year and has a pair of top-five finishes and five top-20's. Luth, who capped the Horizon League Championship with back-to-back birdies, has a low round of 70 this season.
PAUL MINKO
Junior
Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville
Minko has been strong for the Vikings down the stretch, notching a ninth place showing at the Penn State Rutherford Intercollegiate and tying for 12th at the league championship. He is third on the squad with a 75.7 scoring average, playing 25 of the 28 rounds this year. Minko, who carded a 66 at the St. Bonaventure Invitational in the fall - tied for the third lowest round in school history - has three top-20 showings this year, including a tie for third place at St. Bonaventure.
MITCHELL MOORE
Junior
Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South
Moore will be playing in the regionals for the second straight year, placing 61st at Rich Harvest Farms last year with rounds of 83-78-79 (240). The lefty is tied for fourth on this year's team with a 75.8 scoring average, which includes a team-best round of 65 at the Marshall Invitational in the fall, tied for the second lowest round in school history. He also shot a 67 in the fall at the Turning Stone Tiger Intercollegiate where he tied for second place. Moore, who is one of two Vikings to play in all 28 rounds this year, placed fourth at the Horizon League Championship to earn a spot on the all-tournament team. He carded rounds of 72-76-76 (224).
