May 1, 2006

AUBURN - The Auburn's women's golf team received a bid to the NCAA East Region, which will be held at the Bryan Park Golf Course in Browns Summit, N.C., May 11-13, NCAA Women's Golf Committee Chair Barbara Camp announced Monday afternoon.

The Tigers, ranked fourth in the latest Golfweek poll, are fresh off victories at the SEC Championship and the Lady Buckeye Invitational. Senior Maria Martinez, who was named the SEC Golfer of the Year, is currently ranked second in the same poll behind No. 1 Duke's Amanda Blumenherst.

"We are happy to be in the East Region," head coach Kim Evans said. "The girls are fairly familiar with the course. But really, we would be happy to earn a bid wherever we were assigned. This is the part of the season you work towards so we are getting ready for what is ahead."

Auburn will face five of the top 15 teams including top seed in the east Arizona State at No. 3, No. 9 Tennessee, No. 11 California, No. 13 Wake Forest and No. 14 Vanderbilt. Wake Forest will serve as the host for the tournament.

The top eight teams in each of the three regions will advance to the NCAA Championship in Columbus, Ohio, at the Scarlet Course, May 23-26. Central Region competition will be held at The Traditions at Texas A&M golf course in Bryan, Texas, and the West Region will take place at the Washington National Golf Club in Auburn, Wash.

For live action from the East Region online, fans may visit www.golfstat.com or follow daily updates of the Auburn golf team on www.auburntigers.com.

East Region:

• Teams: 1. Arizona State, 2. Auburn, 3. Tennessee, 4. Wake Forest, 5. California, 6. Vanderbilt, 7. Virginia, 8. South Carolina, 9. LSU, 10. Florida State, 11. Alabama, 12. North Carolina State, 13. Augusta State, 14. Maryland, 15. Furman, 16. North Carolina, 17. Mississippi State, 18. Campbell, 19. College of Charleston, 20. East Carolina, 21. Yale.