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Golf teams invited to NCAA regionals

Both UNG golf teams have punched tickets to their respective NCAA Division II regional tournaments. The women will play in Gainesville, Georgia, and the men in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) men's and women's golf teams have punched tickets to their respective NCAA Division II regional tournaments.

The 15th-ranked women's team will make its first team regional appearance in program history as it plays May 5-7 at the Chattahoochee Golf Club in Gainesville, Georgia. UNG has partnered with the Greater Gainesville Sports Alliance as hosts of the South Regional. The event marks the fourth consecutive year in which NCAA championship golf will take place at Chattahoochee hosted by UNG.

The host and eighth-seeded Nighthawks earned their first ever at-large bid to the event after posting one of the best regular seasons in program history. UNG finished fifth place or better in eight of nine events on the season. That includes most recently a second straight runner-up finish in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) championship. UNG also earned its highest ranking in program history during the year, climbing as high as No. 11 in the Women's Golf Coaches Association Coaches Poll.

"I could not be prouder of this group and every player who has ever laid a hand in the building of this program. Earning our first berth into the NCAA regional is a testament of the hard work, grit and belief that these ladies show every day," UNG women's golf head coach Sierra Campbell said. "They've set a new standard for North Georgia women's golf, and I am blessed to be part of this history made. The South Regional is one of the hardest tournaments in the country, and we are excited to compete in front of a home crowd."

Joining the UNG women are Anderson (South Carolina), Wingate, Flagler, Lynn, Nova Southeastern, Rollins, Lee, University of Tampa, Saint Leo, Lander, Palm Beach Atlantic, Florida Southern, West Florida, Lincoln Memorial, Barry, Carson-Newman, and Erskine.

Six individuals are also part of the women's regional.

The top four finishing teams and top two individuals not associated with an advancing team will move on to the NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championship May 13-17 at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada. 

UNG senior Jadin Ware, sophomore Abby Franks and freshman Ellie Jane Riner all earned spots on the All-PBC second team, and Riner was named PBC Freshman of the Year.

The men's team is making its fifth consecutive NCAA regional appearance and is coming off a national runner-up finish in 2024. A year after a decisive regional title, the third-ranked Nighthawks will take the course May 8-10 in the South/Southeast Regional at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

The Nighthawks, who finished third in the PBC championship this spring, earned the top seed in the Southeast Regional after winning three events this year and finishing outside of the top three just twice. 

"We never take for granted making it to a regional. We're in the toughest regional in the country, and we look forward to competing against the best," Bryson Worley, UNG men's golf head coach and director of golf, said. "We're not worried about the national finals at all. We're focused on getting ready for Mission Inn and preparing to play the best we can on that golf course under NCAA regional championship conditions."

Joining the UNG men are fellow Southeast Regional teams Lincoln Memorial, Georgia Southwestern, USC Aiken, Columbus State, Wingate, Lander, Lenoir-Rhyne, Flagler and Barton and South Regional teams West Florida, Lee, Florida Southern, Rollins, Nova Southeastern, Barry, Saint Leo, Palm Beach Atlantic, Embry-Riddle, and Spring Hill.

Eight individuals are also part of the men's regional.

The top seven finishing teams and top two individuals not associated with an advancing team will move on to the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship, set for May 19-23 at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The finals will be hosted by Palm Beach Atlantic and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

Worley earned PBC Coach of the Year honors, with senior Ethan Day and graduate student Jack Vajda on the All-PBC first team and sophomore Colby Bennett and senior Hughes Threlkeld on the All-PBC second team.