The Collegiate Golf Alliance’s presentation of the National Collegiate Golf Championship (NCGC) enters a milestone year in 2011.
This year’s tournament represents the 10th year of operation for the largest golf competition in the United States staged for collegiate recreational golfers (non-varsity) to compete for a national championship in a two-person scramble format of play.
Always held in Las Vegas, Nevada, this year’s event will once again be held at the top-rated Paiute Golf Resort which will present quite a challenge to new and returning NCGC competitors.
Over the years the event has been hosted at other highly-rated courses in the area including Silverstone Country Club, Revere Golf Club, and Badlands Golf Club.
Offering three divisions of play including Student, Faculty/Staff, and Alumni/Community groupings, a number of participants in this year’s tournament are not strangers to the event or the experience of traveling to Vegas to play in the NCGC.
Many are returning champions of their local qualifier events year in and year out and some are returning NCGC division champions representing their university or college once again.
Mike Nakunz, California State University – San Bernandino
Mike has participated in the Alumni/Community division for the last eight years with different partners and won his local qualifier once again in 2011. This year he didn’t think he was going to be able to play after a shoulder injury sidelined him, but he managed to recover quickly and made a return trip to Vegas happen. He won the Alumni/ Community division last year but fell short in claiming the overall tournament championship title. His wife Jennifer, who has been a huge supporter for Mike, has accompanied him each and every year. Their son Bryce has also been at the tournament cheering for his dad. Mike always speaks VERY highly of the NCGC and the entire CGA program. Why wouldn’t he? He’s the CGA’s longest-standing participant and ambassador at the NCGC.
Kerry Geroux, University of Southern Mississippi
He has been a participant since 2004 and has won the faculty/staff division 4 times since then. His partner is Dave Beckett – also a returnee who was partnered with Kerry when they won in 2004 and 2005.
Mike Dowst/ Todd Nace, University of Southern Mississippi
Also winners of the program in 2009 in the Alumni/Community division. They will be up against the Nakunz team and will try to capture the honors for that division this year.
Aaron Briones – defending champion from Sonoma State University
Aaron was part of the winning Student Division team in 2010 along with partner Ryan Carter. However, in 2011, Briones comes back to defend his overall title with a new partner this year since Carter was not able to attend this year’s tournament.
Matt Morrison/Adam Whitt, Western Kentucky University
Matt and Adam won the Faculty/Staff division in 2010 and will be trying to defend their title over four -time winner, Kerry Geroux and partner David Beckett.
Lloyd Hisaka – University of Hawaii
He is the Director of the University of Hawaii Department of Recreation and has built participation in the Local Qualifier tournament to a tremendous level. The first tournament he held had 18 players and in 2011, the field grew to 154 participants.
Carl Furtani, University of Hawaii
Along with Lloyd, Carl played a large part in spreading the NCGC brand and story to the Island which resulted in developing a large field that competed for the chance to travel to play in the NCGC in Las Vegas. The University of Hawaii will bring 16 players to compete in various divisions in this year’s tournament.
First-year participating programs at the 2011 NCGC: Boston University, University of Kansas, Ithaca College, UC Berkeley, University of Vermont
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