The University of Mississippi Athletics
David Receives Individual NCAA Regional Bid
5/7/2012 | Men's Golf
May 7, 2012
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss men's golfer Joe David learned on Monday evening that his season will continue when the senior received an individual bid to compete in the NCAA Athens Regional in Athens, Ga.
The Athens Regional, hosted by Georgia at the University of Georgia Golf Course, will take place May 17-19.
The Athens Regional field includes 13 teams-No. 8 Alabama, No. 10 North Florida, No. 16 New Mexico, No. 24 Georgia, East Carolina, Long Beach State, Augusta State, Wake Forest, Houston, Texas-Arlington, UNC Wilmington and Loyola of Maryland-and 10 individual participants from teams that did not receive a bid to an NCAA regional.
Currently ranked the No. 35 individual in the nation, David is the highest-ranked of the 10 individual participants in the regional.
"It is exciting to get to play some more college golf and continue my career a little longer," David said. "It is another event and another chance to prove myself. I am going to prepare the best I can the rest of this week and next week, and hopefully I'll be ready to go come tournament time."
A Second Team All-SEC selection, David leads the Rebels with a 71.43 stroke average. David led Ole Miss in nine of 11 tournaments this season, earning three top-five, five top-10, and nine top-20 finishes.
A pair of third-place finishes-at the Mason Rudolph and the David Thoms-highlighted David's regular season.
"I am proud for Joe to extend his college career by getting invited to NCAA Regionals," said Ole Miss head coach Ernest Ross. "The Athens Regional is a strong field; but at all sites, you have to play really well to advance to Nationals. We look forward to the challenge."
Five teams from each regional and one individual not on those teams will advance to the NCAA Championships, which will take place May 29-June 3 in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
This will be the fourth NCAA Regional appearance for David, a four-year starter for Ole Miss. David's best NCAA performance came as a junior last year at the East Regional in Blacksburg, Va., where he finished in 10th.
Though David is no stranger to postseason play, the course in Athens will provide a new experience.
"I have never played the course," said David. "But I have some friends who have, and coach (Jack) O'Keefe knows some people that have knowledge of the course."
Visit www.OleMissSports.com for further updates. You can also follow the Rebels on twitter at @OleMissMGolf and on facebook at www.facebook.com/OleMissMGolf.
