May 5, 2009

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – (courtesy ASU Sports Information) - Alabama State University freshman golfer John Montgomery earned an invitation to the 2009 NCAA golf regional May 14-16 at The Club at Olde Stone. Western Kentucky University will host the tournament.

Montgomery, a native of Whitaker, Pa., earned the invitation by virtue of winning the individual medalist honor at the SWAC Championship in April. With his selection, Montgomery becomes the first ASU golfer to qualify for NCAA postseason play.

A first-team All-SWAC performer, Montgomery posted a 78.73 stroke average through 10 tournaments this season. He carded his career low of 69 in the final round of the SWAC Championship and owns rounds in the 70s for 12 of his 22 rounds of competition this year. ASU also has counted Montgomery’s score towards the team total in all but one round.

“This is a tremendous honor for John as an individual and for our program has a whole,” said ASU head coach Gary Grandison. “One of our goals at the start of the season was to qualify for the NCAA Championship. This selection just demonstrates the type of athlete we have at Alabama State. This will allow us to show that we can compete at the highest level of collegiate competition.”

The NCAA Championship consists of six 54-hole regional tournaments with the Top 30 teams and six individuals not on those qualifying teams advancing to the finals, which will be held May 26-30 at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.