May 27, 2012
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's golf team will begin its quest for a national title Tuesday when play begins at the NCAA Championship at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The Knights, who are ranked 22nd nationally, will be one of 30 teams competing at the event.
The tournament starts with three rounds of stroke play, which will conclude Thursday. UCF is paired with Georgia and Iowa to open the event and will tee off starting at 7:20 a.m. local time. Following 54 holes of stroke play, the top eight teams will advance to match play. The championship will be decided on Sunday, June 3.
"We think we have enough talent to do a great job out there," UCF head coach Bryce Wallor said. "I am really proud of our guys. We have worked so hard all year. They put the time in. We are prepared."
UCF advanced to the championship by placing fifth at the NCAA Regional in Stanford, Calif., on May 19. The Knights will be making their fifth all-time appearance in championship, with the last coming in 2009 when UCF tied for 10th.
Brad Schneider, who competed in the 2009 event, leads UCF's lineup. The senior will be joined by four sophomores - Ricardo Gouveia, Jose Joia, Greg Eason and Kyle Wilshire. Joia tied for eighth at the regionals.
UCF won three tournament titles during the regular season, and the Knights plan on treating the championship like any other event.
"We are going to go in and have fun," Wilshire said. "We practice as hard as anybody in the country. We feel like we are prepared. We just need to minimize our mistakes and we'll be fine."
Live stats for the event will be available at Golfstat.com.