MEDIA RELEASE

The University of Hawaii at Hilo golf team is in Florence, Ala. for the 2011 NCAA Division II Golf Championships held on the Robert Trent Jones – The Shoals Fighting Joe Course, Monday, May 16 – Friday, May 20.

There will be 108 total participants among the 20 teams competing in the tournament representing 14 different states including eight individual qualifiers challenging the 7,126-yard, par-72 course.

For the first time in the 48-year history of the Championship, the winner will be determined in Match Play. After rounds on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the final eight teams will be paired against each other (1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5) for a quarterfinal round Thursday morning. The final four remaining teams will play Thursday afternoon. The two remaining teams will meet in the Championship Final on Friday.

The field includes teams from Abilene Christian University, American International College, Barry University, Barton College, Cal State Monterey Bay, Cameron University, University of Central Missouri, University of Central Oklahoma, Colorado State Pueblo, Columbus State University, Concord University, Fort Lewis College, Hawaii Hilo, Indiana University (Pa.), Lynn University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Newberry College, St. Thomas Aquinas College, Sonoma State University and Wilmington University.

Playing for the Vulcans are senior Niel Cabico (Lanai City, Hawaii) and freshmen Travis Russell (Costa Mesa, Calif.), Blake Snyder (Seattle, Wash.), Corey Kozuma (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Chris Shimomura (Lahaina, Hawaii).

The Vulcans’ previous appearance was in 2005 when Nick Mason’s second place finish in the individual competition led the team to a fifth place finish.

The Vulcans are paired with Concord and Columbus State for the first two rounds with the first group teeing off at noon on Monday on the 10th tee and at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday on the 1st tee.

Also in the field is 2007 Hawaii Preparatory Academy graduate Kent Graham (Kamuela, Hawaii), a senior on the American International squad.