Dakota, Dunes, S.D. – The University of Hawaii at Hilo men's golf team overcame windy playing conditions to finish third at the 2005 NCAA Division II Men's West Regional and earn a spot in the national championship.

"On the last four holes there were strong winds so we were worried coming in," UHH Coach Earl Tamiya said. "Everybody hung in there and we made mistakes, but we did enough to hang in there."

20 teams and five individuals will emerge from the five Super Regionals and advance to the National Championships, May 17-20, at The Club at the Savannah Harbor in Savannah, Ga. Hosting this year's championship is Armstrong Atlantic University.

The Club is home for The PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf Tournament and offers an 18-hole championship course designed by renowned Architect Robert Cupp in conjunction with the legendary “Slammin’ Sam” Snead. Recently named one of the "Top 60 Golf Resorts in the United States" by Condç Nast Traveler Magazine and awarded a “Four Star Best Places to Play” by Golf Digest.

The Vulcans shot a 12-over-par, 300 final round. Western Washington finished the regional in first place (895). Chico State finished in second (902), followed by UH Hilo (915), Cal-State Bakersfield and St. Martin's College (918), Cal-State Stanislaus (920), Grand Canyon University (947), and UC San Diego (958).

As he has done for much of the year, Nick Mason led the Vulcans with a one-under, 71 final round for a three-day total of 215 (78-66-71). Mason finished a stroke back of Western Washington's Tim Feenstra for second place overall and had four birdies and twelve pars on the day before running into trouble on holes four and five.

"The winds switched directions and a lot of holes played different, but we got the job done," Mason said.

Troy Higashiyama and Colin Gilliam had identical totals of 237 to tie for 26th place. Gilliam shot a five-over 77 final round and Higashiyama showed some toughness by rebounding from a rough two rounds to shoot a four-over-par 76 final round.

"It was just mental toughness and getting to know the course better. I hit the ball better today," Higashiyama said.

Other Vulcans were Garrett Okamura, who shot a four-over 76 final round for a three-day total of 231 (79-76-76) and finished in a tie for 14th place and Kevin Shimomura who finished in a tie for 28th place with a 10-over 82 final round for a total of 244 (83-79-82)

The last two years, Mason has been the lone Vulcan to make it to the Championships, but will be accompanied by his teammates this year.

"It feels great. Last year I missed the guys so much, our goal at the beginning of the year was to win the national championship. It feels good to have all five guys going," Mason said.

As far as the National Championships, Mason has some advice for his teammates. "We just need to work hard and hang in there. You can never know what will happen. Three strokes determined if we were going to the championships or not. Just stay in there and plug away till the end," Mason said.

This marks the first time in UHH history that the men's golf has made it as a team.
"It is a nice way for the seniors to end, with us going to the national championship," UHH Coach Tamiya said.