EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State men’s golf junior Dan Ellis was selected as an individual to participate in the NCAA Regional in Ann Arbor to be held at the University of Michigan Golf Course on May 17-19. It will be Ellis’ first NCAA Regional appearance.
“I am so happy for Dan and his opportunity to compete in the NCAA Tournament,” said first-year Spartan head coach Casey Lubahn. “He had a solid year and knows what he has to do to continue to perform at a high level. When Dan committed to MSU, we knew he had this kind of potential and I think he has proven to himself that he can compete with anyone if he plays his game – which is patient, steady and high percentage golf.
“Dan is familiar with the course in Ann Arbor and played well there in the fall. While this will be different, I am confident he will be very comfortable come May 17.”
Ellis will face 13 teams and 10 other individuals who qualified for the Ann Arbor Regional, in an attempt to qualify for the NCAA Championships. After the 54-hole event, the top-five teams and the low individual not on those teams will move on to Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. on May 29-June 3.
Ellis leads Michigan State with a 72.9 stroke average this season, which would currently rank sixth on the Spartan single-season list. It has been a breakout season for Ellis, whose previous season low was 75.4 last year. Ellis’ career scoring average of 74.7 is seventh on the MSU career list.
The Negaunee, Mich. native, led the Spartans in eight of the 11 stroke play events this season, posting top-20 showings in seven of those events and top-5 in four. He tied for fifth in last week’s Big Ten Championship, earning all-championship honors in the process. Ellis’ best finish came at the season-opening Fossum Invitational where he tied for third.
Ellis had success at the University of Michigan Golf Course earlier this season, tying for fifth at the Wolverine Invitational (Sept. 12-13). He shot a 2-under par 211, including a career low 66 in the second round.
Ellis is just the third Spartan to qualify for an NCAA Regional as an individual, joining Jack Newman in 2010 and Ryan Brehm in 2006. As a team, the Spartans have qualified for the Regionals nine times (1992, 1993, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009).
