TCU Earns 29th-Straight NCAA Bid
5/2/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
The Horned Frogs earned a No. 6 seed in the 13-team regional hosted by Pacific. The 54-hole tournament will take place May 14-16 at The Reserve at Spanos Park. LSU is the top seed in the regional.
"I'm really happy with what we've been able to accomplish this season," said head coach Bill Montigel. "The kids have worked hard all year long for the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Championships."
In his 31st season as head coach of the Horned Frogs, Montigel has led TCU to an NCAA Regional every season since 1990. The Frogs are one of only three NCAA Division I teams to earn a regional bid each of the last 29 years under the same head coach. Only 15 programs have amassed the same streak with numerous head coaches.
"The streak is more impressive every season not just because it's another year to the total, but because it's becoming harder to make a regional," said Montigel. "Every year, more schools are making a commitment to their golf program."
Last season, TCU finished 11th at the NCAA Regional in College Grove, Tenn.
This year's TCU squad is made up of six juniors, led this season by Stefano Mazzoli, who is ranked No. 30 in the nation by GolfStat. On Tuesday, Mazzoli was named one of 30 semifinalists for the Jack Nicklaus Award, which recognizes the nation's top golfer. The Montorfano, Italy native has led TCU in five tournaments this season and has five top 10 finishes, including a first place finish at the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate. As a team, TCU won the Wexford Plantation Intercollege, as well as the Mission Inn Spring Spectacular.
It's not just Mazzoli that has led the Frogs as Triston Fisher, Turner MacLean and David Ravetto have all been the top finisher for TCU in multiple tournaments this season.
The top five teams in each of the six regions will advance to the NCAA Championships, held May 25-30 at the Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Frogs have advanced to the NCAA Championship 19 times, six in the last nine seasons, with the last appearance coming in 2016.
Players Mentioned
