May 5, 2009
NORFOLK, VA--Old Dominion University junior golfer Eric Onesi (Bear, DE.) has received an at-largebid to the NCAA West Region in Stillwater, OK, May 14-16 at Oklahoma State University's Karsten Creek Golf Club.
While ODU competed as a team in 2003 and 2007, Onesi is the first individual since All-American and ODU Hall of Famer Jon Hurst ('91) to get an at-large berth.
"We are very excited in having another individual going to the NCAA's," said ODU Head Coach Murray Rudisill. Eric has played solid all year, and finished strong with the second place finish at the CAA Championships."It is a great accomplishment to have an individual compete in these championships."
Onesi `s overall stroke average is 72.5 this season. He compiled a 71.8 spring stroke average and a 73.4 fall stroke average. He finished second in the CAA Championships, sixth at Pinehurst and seventh at Palmas Del Mar. In all, Onesi had seven top 15 finishes this season.
Last summer, Onesi placed second at the Eastern Amateur in Portsmouth and won the Delaware State Amateur title. The 2007 CAA Rookie of the Year,Onesi has earned All-CAA honors three consecutiveseasons. He is one of three finialists for CAA Player of the Year.
The top individual from each of the six NCAA Regionals will qualify for the National Championships, May 28-31 at Purdue University. Karsten Creek opened in 1994 and was designed by Tom Fazio. It is a par 72, 7,409 yards.
Onesi is scheduled to tee of Thursday at 10:10 a.m. central time. He is one of tenindividuals who received at-large invitations.
TEAMSOklahoma StateArkansasTCULSUChattanoogaPepperdineMichigan StateBaylorNorthwesternTulsaDenverWitchita StateOral Roberts.
INDIVIDUALSTrent Peterson, South Dakota StatePeter Malnati, MissouriTom Whitney, Air ForceKelly Kraft, SMUEric Onesi, ODUChris Ross, Eastern MichiganRoger Sloan, UTEPNate Page, Southern UtahDevin Carrey, Louisiana-LafayetteJames, Kwon, SMU