Golfers brewing with confidence at outset of NCAA Regional

Thursday, May 15

Chattanooga, Tenn.

Middle Tennessee

NCAA East Regional

Photo by: B. Lambert

5/14/2008 9:56:00 PM | Men's Golf

By: MT Media Relations

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Only one of Middle Tennessee's current players in the lineup for this week's NCAA East Regional at Council Fire Golf Course in Chattanooga has ever played on this stage, yet, the Blue Raiders have a wealth of confidence as they prepare for one of the toughest tournament fields they ever have faced. Junior Chas Narramore became the first Blue Raider to earn an at-large berth into the NCAA Regional when he participated in the event last year so he knows what to expect. As far as the remaining players, this may be their first appearance in a Regional but they say they know what lies ahead. "Great competition," Narramore said of the loaded field that includes eight of the nation's Top 25 teams according to Golfstat.com. "We know what we have to do and we have played against several of these teams during the season. You don't have to have played in a Regional to know what you are getting into. We just have to play the way we are capable of playing as a team and things will take care of themselves." The 54-hole event runs Thursday through Saturday with 27 teams and six additional individuals not on those teams, hitting the course. The top 10 teams advance into the NCAA Championship, May 28-31, in West Lafayette, Ind. The top two individuals not on an advancing team also reach the National Championship event. In addition to a wealth of Top 25 teams at the East Regional, including No. 1 overall seed Georgia, the field also includes 22 of the nation's top 65 teams. The Blue Raiders are seeded No. 19 and ranked 55th nationally. They have a 109-32 overall record, including a sterling 71-14 mark this spring. Middle Tennessee has won a school-record five tournaments this season which equals the most of any team in the East Regional. "The tournament provides a great opportunity for our team," said first-year Blue Raider coach Whit Turnbow, who served the previous five seasons as assistant golf coach at Middle Tennessee and was a standout player the last time the team reached the NCAA Regionals (2000). "The field at the East Regional is loaded so it's going to be a tough test but we believe we have provided ourselves for such a challenge throughout the entire season. We played a tough schedule so when we got to this point we would be prepared for it. Our guys are not just happy to be here, they expected to be here. Now we want to play well and take that next step." The Blue Raiders' five-player lineup features All-Sun Belt performers Narramore and Rick Cochran, both juniors, along with senior Nick Bailes, sophomore Kent Bulle and freshman Jason Millard. Bailes is enjoying a homecoming at the East Regional. He prepped at Cleveland High School in nearby Cleveland, Tenn., and his home is within 15 minutes of Council Fire Golf Course. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity and it means a lot to me, especially being my last season," Bailes said. "Our program has improved a great deal in the five years I have been at Middle Tennessee and it's great to be part of this. Hopefully we can keep the run going this weekend because I do believe we have a team capable of advancing." WHO: Chas Narramore, Rick Cochran, Whit Turnbow. Narramore and Cochran were named All-Sun Belt Conference at the SBC Championships last month, while Turnbow was named the SBC Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm. WHAT: NCAA East Regional WHEN: Thursday-Saturday, May 15-17 (18 holes per day - 54 holes total) WHERE: Council Fire Golf Club, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Par 71/6,961 yards) HOW: The Blue Raiders won a school record five tournaments in 2007-08 and earned the program's first at-large berth into a NCAA Regional.