ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – Coming off the excitement of winning the NCAA College Grove Regional Championship, the UCF men's golf team is ready to look forward as the NCAA Championship approaches. The Knights headed to Sugar Grove, Ill. Wednesday morning to prepare for the NCAA Championship, which begins Friday at Rich Harvest Farms.
Head coach Bryce Wallor will take the same group that led UCF to its second regional title in program history – and the first since 2009 – to Nationals. Freshman Bobby Bai, junior Manuel Elvira, junior Juuso Kahlos, sophomore Kyler Tate and senior Ryan Stovash will make up the Knights' lineup.
Wallor said throughout the spring, he could feel the team improving, which led to the regional win in Tennessee.
"This spring had kind of a really good taste to it," Wallor said. "We had a chance to win at North Florida … with a few holes to play and faltered. Nobody got upset. We went to FAU and gained a victory there. A week later, we had a victory at Augusta. So, we were starting to get some really good vibes, some good play. I'm really proud of the guys. I think they're on a little bit of a high, just from the win. Having said that, we need to be grounded, respect our opponents, go out and try to do a good job this week."
This week's job could be a little easier considering UCF has solid knowledge of the golf course. The Knights opened their season at the Northern Intercollegiate, played at Rich Harvest Farms, from 2011-2015. UCF won the tournament in both 2011 and 2013. Elvira and Kahlos have each played in the event twice, while Stovash has three tournaments under his belt at Rich Harvest Farms.
"We've had success there," Wallor said. "We've had two team victories at the (Northern Intercollegiate). We know the golf course. We know what to expect. We know how they can change the course up. From a coaching standpoint, we'll know what we're doing this week."
"It's a really, really good golf course," Elvira said. "The greens are really, really fast. You have to know where to place the ball. It's kind of long. It's a really demanding golf course that could be playing pretty tough this week."
Stovash said the team should feel good about their chances coming off the regional win and playing a course they have some familiarity with. UCF is the No. 15 seed in the tournament, with the top eight after three rounds of stroke play advancing to match play.
(The regional victory) "was the biggest win we've probably had in the history of UCF and definitely since I've been here," the senior said. "It gives a lot of confidence to us. I think we beat four of the top 12 teams in the nation. That just shows you anything can happen. We won there my freshman year, so I had a good experience there already. You've got to hit it long and straight and the greens are very fast. It'll be a good challenge. But all 30 teams have to play the same course and I think we can compete on any course with any team."
Wallor is aware of his team's solid morale heading into the NCAA Championship.
"Some of our players have some really good feelings," he said. "I've heard some of them say it is one of their favorite courses they've played in college. To hear that stuff is all positive. I tell our guys every year that making the regional is an expectation of mine for the program. Then, when you qualify for the national championship, (it) truly is a special experience."
The competition portion of that experience begins Friday afternoon for the Knights. They are paired with No. 13 seed Oklahoma and No. 14 seed Virginia. Those three squads will take the course at 2:17 p.m.
