TCU Golfers Brace For NCAA Regional Play
5/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 18, 2005
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Tourney Central
This is the 16th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance for the TCU Horned Frogs under head coach Bill Montigel. Last year, TCU reached the NCAA Championships after tying for fifth at the NCAA Central Regional in West Lafayette, Ind., with a three-round score of 901 (+37). This is the fourth straight year that the Frogs have been a top-three seed at the Central Regional (No. 1 in 2002, No. 2 in 2003, No. 3 in 2004, No. 3 in 2005).
First Things First
TCU has advanced past the NCAA Regional to reach the NCAA Championships 10 of the past 14 years and in two of the last three seasons. Last year, the Horned Frogs tied for 20th place at the NCAA Championships at the Homestead's Cascades Course in Hot Springs, Va.
Not Just Won and Done
TCU claimed its fifth straight conference title in April, winning the Conference USA championship by a school-record 26 strokes. With the victory, the men's golf team broke the all-sport school record for most consecutive league crowns won, surpassing the men's tennis team, which garnered four in a row from 1994-97.
Can We Just Name It the Montigel Award?
Head coach Bill Montigel made it a clean sweep by picking up all four Conference USA Coach of the Year awards during the Horned Frogs' four-year stay in C-USA. TCU will join the Mountain West Conference in 2005-06. Over his 18-year career at TCU, Montigel has grabbed a total of six league coach of the year honors. Despite spending all of his time at the Fort Worth school, he has won the award in three different leagues (Southwest Conference, Western Athletic Conference and Conference USA).
Warren Peace
TCU played Notre Dame University's Warren Course just last month when the Horned Frogs and Fighting Irish met in a dual match. TCU won the one-day, 36-hole event with a 3-over-par 563. The Frogs earned the comeback victory by posting a 271 (-9) in the second round to turn a 10-stroke deficit into an 18-shot victory.
Rank and File
The Frogs have been ranked in the nation's top 12 in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings and the GCAA/Precept Coaches' Poll all season. TCU is currently rated ninth according to both polls.
Line Us Up
TCU has had nine players compete in tournaments this season, but has had the same five (J.J. Killeen, David Schultz, Colby Beckstrom, Drew Stoltz and James Sacheck) compose the lineup in each of the Horned Frogs' last three events. Since the fivesome took over, TCU earned a win at the 14-team National Invitational Tournament, defeated Notre Dame in a dual match on the Irish's home course and claimed a 26-stroke victory at the Conference USA Championships. Prior to that, TCU had just one top-3 finish in its first eight tournaments.
The Full Nelson
TCU junior Colby Beckstrom made his PGA Tour debut last week when he played in the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. Beckstrom earned a spot in the Dallas event after shooting a 6-under 65 in the Monday qualifier. He became the first TCU golfer ever to qualify for a PGA Tour event under Bill Montigel, and the first to play in a Tour event since Alberto Ochoa was invited to the 1998 Colonial. Beckstrom shot 72-74=146 (+6) to miss the cut by six strokes. He was in good company, however, as Tiger Woods and Retief Goosen, also did not reach the weekend.
Something to Talk About
TCU senior David Schultz was named to the Conference USA All-Decade Team after earning his third straight first-team all-league honor in April. The native of Fargo, N.D., is the son of Ed Schultz, a prominent progressive radio talk show host who is heard throughout the country.
Hooray Hooray For J.J.
Senior J.J. Killeen became the third straight TCU golfer to win Conference USA Player of the Year honors. The All-America candidate owns a career-best 71.94 stroke average and has finished among the top-20 in all but one tournament on the year. He was the Horned Frogs' top finisher in four straight events this spring.
Home For a Hoosier
TCU freshman James Sacheck, who was named to the C-USA All-Tournament Team after placing fourth at the league tourney, is making a return to his home state of Indiana during the NCAA Central Regional. The native of Zionsville, Ind., finished second at the 2001 Indiana State Men's Amateur at the tender age of 15. He also led Zionsville High School to the 2002 and 2004 state titles and claimed individual medalist honors in 2004. Sacheck's brother, Tad, is a sophomore on Indiana University's men's golf team.
The Irish Eyes Should Be Smiling
Drew Stoltz should have a little extra knowledge about the par-5 5th hole at the Warren Golf Course. After all, No. 5 honors his parents, Steve and Susan Stoltz, for their contributions to the school's golf course. Steve is a 1974 graduate of Notre Dame. The Horned Frog sophomore was the Co-Medalist at the 2005 Conference USA Championships and also had a top-20 finish at the National Invitational Tournament in March.
Players Mentioned
