May 9, 2001

Columbia, Mo. - For the 15th time in the last 19 years, the University of Missouri men's golf team will be represented in NCAA post-season play. Junior golfer Mark McBride has been selected to compete at the NCAA Men's Golf Central Regional, which is set for May 17-19 at Karsten Creek in Stillwater, Okla.

McBride was one of six individuals invited, along with 27 teams to comprise the regional field. The top ten teams, as well as two individuals, will advance to compete in the NCAA Championships, slated for May 30-June 2 at Duke University Golf Club in Durham, N.C. McBride, who led Missouri with a season stroke average of 74.56, will be making his first NCAA appearance. He has notched top-25 finishes in eight of his 12 tournament outings this season, and won his first collegiate title in the fall when he claimed the Jim Colbert Intercollegiate at Kansas State with a three-round score of 220 (75-73-72). McBride, a native of Lebanon, Mo., tied for 26th place at the recent Big 12 Championships.

Head Coach Tim Robyn said that McBride provides a great example for his teammates to follow in the future.

"This is culmination of the time, practice and desire Mark has displayed this season," Robyn said. "It has paid off for him and he has been able to elevate his game to a new level."

McBride said that while he had hoped for a team qualification, this experience at the Regional will pay off for the team in the long run.

"I think that playing against the best players in the Region will prepare me for the years to come when our team qualifies for this event," McBride said. "I'll hopefully be able to lead the team next season and provide some insight into what this experience is like."