Men’s Golf Opens NCAA Regional Play on Monday

TROY, Ala. – Troy men's golf makes its NCAA postseason return this week as the Trojans open play at the Urbana Regional as the No. 9 seed on Monday at the Atkins Golf Club in Urbana, Ill. Troy earned an at-large selection into NCAA Regional play for the first time since 2017 and enter with its highest seed in program history.

"Postseason is here," Sun Belt Coach of the Year Clay Bounds said. "This is what we have been working towards all year, and the guys deserve this. All their hard work will be put on display this week up in Illinois as we are looking to make the top five for a berth to the National Championship."

Troy hits the course at 8:55 a.m. along with Houston and Marquette; Pablo Gracia will set the pace for the Trojans, followed by Lee Poppell, Nick Fowlkes, Jake Springer and Brantley Scott.

The top five teams following 54 holes of stroke play advance to the NCAA Championship. Troy finished sixth in its last NCAA Regional appearance, while a Trojan individual has qualified for the NCAA Championship in three of Troy's last four Regional trips.

Scott and Springer lead the Trojans after earning All-Sun Belt First Team honors, while Fowlkes was a third team selection. Scott posted a -0.61 score vs. par over his 18 rounds, with nine finding a red number and six finishing in the 60s, while Springer shot even-par for the season (71.72 stroke average), with a team-leading 14 rounds under par and eight rounds in the 60s.

"From what we know, the golf course will play difficult," Bounds said. "Long rough and fast greens. Our job now is to use the practice round to really get comfortable with our surroundings and the golf course. We will put extra emphasis on putting and getting used to the speed of the greens and reading them correctly."

Tournament Name: NCAA Urbana Regional
Dates: May 12-14
Host: University of Illinois
Course: Atkins Golf Club - Par 71 – 7,533 yards
Location: Urbana, Ill.
Format: 18 holes (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) – Tee Times; Top five teams advance to NCAA Championship
Field: No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 10 North Carolina, No. 14 Illinois, No. 23 Texas Tech, No. 26 Long Beach State, No. 35 UNLV, No. 38 Houston, No. 47 Marquette, No. 51 Troy, NC State, Wright State, Pacific and Illinois State

Troy Lineup
Brantley Scott (18 rds., 70.89 avg., -0.61 vs. par)
Jake Springer (33 rds., 71.72 avg., 0.00 vs. par)
Nick Fowlkes (33 rds., 72.18 avg., 0.45 vs. par)
Pablo Gracia (32 rds., 73.00 avg., 1.28 vs. par)
Lee Poppell (33 rds., 73.18 avg., 1.45 vs. par)

About Atkins Golf Course
The vision of Stone Creek Golf Club came to fruition in 1999 thanks to Clint Atkins and architects Dick and Tim Nugent. The beautiful 18-hole course in Urbana, Illinois, provided a great test for locals and visitors for almost 20 years. In 2020, ownership shifted as the Atkins Family made an incredible gift of over 300 acres of real estate to the University of Illinois and the University of Illinois Foundation. Included in the gift, which was valued at $15 million, was Stone Creek Golf Club (which has now become Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois) and its associated buildings and equipment. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics partnered with architect Drew Rogers to enhance an already strong golf course by rebuilding all greens, relocating many and rebuilding all bunkers using the Better Billy Bunker system, and adding length to allow the teams to stretch the course over 7500 yards. The renovation has resulted in a championship venue that provides a fun and challenging golf experience to players of all skill levels. Atkins Golf Club proudly serves as the home course for the Fighting Illini men's and women's golf teams.

Men’s Golf Opens NCAA Regional Play on Monday

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Players Mentioned

Nick Fowlkes

Pablo Gracia

Lee Poppell

Brantley Scott

Jake Springer

Troy University Athletics