WARREN, Ohio – It has been seven years, but the Chico State men's golf program is back in the NCAA Championships.
 
Thanks to a big third-round performance at the NCAA Super Regionals more than a week ago to finish in the top five, the Wildcats became one of 20 teams invited to play the 54-hole tournament held at the 7,287-yard, par-72 Avalon Lakes course Monday-Wednesday. The top eight finishers will advance to match-medal play to determine the national champion beginning Thursday.
 
Head coach Nick Green will be inserting Tyler Ashman, Dakota Ochoa, Naoki Easterday, Giuliano Kaminski and Giacomo Sorrentino into the lineup with Landon Williams serving as an alternate. The Wildcats are scheduled to tee off from the first hole at 10:11 a.m. Pacific Time. Fans can follow the 'Cats on Golfstat by clicking here.
 
Ashman, Ochoa and Easterday have played in every round this season. Ashman has a 71.83 par average while Ochoa hovers around 72.07. Easterday is above the average but his 66 score in the final round of the NCAA Super Regionals was critical to the Wildcats moving on to Ohio. Kaminski has played in 17 rounds this season. His best 18-hole score was a 69 at Battle in the Desert three months ago. Williams will be making his first appearance since the CCAA Championships. He has played in 11 rounds this season. Sorrentino was part of the NCAA Super Regional team that helped the Wildcats advance. He has played in nine rounds this season.
 
The national championship stage is no stranger to the Chico State men's golf program. The 'Cats will be playing in their 19^th and their first since 2016. At that time, the program had played in three straight tournaments and five in the span of six years. In addition, Chico State has made top-5 finishes 10 times.
 
Chico State will be seeking its first national championship since 1966.