BTN.com staff, May 19, 2012

Five Big Ten men's golf teams entered the weekend with NCAA Championships aspirations, but Illinois and Iowa were the only ones to advance in regional action. Illinois and Iowa are off to the Championships at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., while Indiana, Northwestern and Purdue missed out in their respective regionals. Read about all the teams in this post.

[NCAA.com 2012 Men's Golf Championships homepage]

ILLINOIS HEADED BACK TO NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
For the fifth year in a row, the Illinois men's golf team qualified for the NCAA Championships after tying for third at the NCAA Norman Regional behind three top-10 individual performances. The Illini maintained their position in the top five on Saturday and moved up a spot with a final round 296 to tie with No. 24 Florida State at 871 (+7). Illinois is one of just five schools to advance to the NCAA Finals each of the past five seasons, joining Florida, Texas, Texas A&M and USC in the elite group. Read full recap at FightingIllini.com.

IOWA MAKES LATE PUSH, ADVANCES TO CHAMPIONSHIPS
The University of Iowa men's golf team fired a one-over par 285 to claim fifth place at the NCAA Southeast Regional and earn a trip to the NCAA Championships, to be held at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Ca. The Hawkeyes ended the event with a score of 867 (+14) to earn the final spot by one stroke. Read full recap at HawkeyeSports.com.

INDIANA FINISHES 9TH AT GREENSBORO REGIONAL
The Indiana Hoosiers men's golf team (No. 28 Golfstat, No. 33 Golfweek/Sagarin) finished ninth at the Greensboro Regional with a 30-over 894 after recording a 15-over 303 in Saturday's final round at the Grandover Resort (East Course). Liberty finished first after posting a 4-over 868, followed by Florida (871), Auburn (874), Lamar (877), and Tulsa (878).

PURDUE TAKES 10TH AT ANN ARBOR REGIONAL
The Purdue men's golf team fell short of making the final cut to proceed to the NCAA nationals. The Boilermakers finished 23 over and in tenth place. The top five teams, who all shot under par for the tournament, will move on to nationals. Senior Tyler Duncan finished tied for 17th place. He finished one under for the tournament after shooting a 71 on the third day for a total of 212 (70, 71, 71). Read full recap at PurdueSports.com.

NORTHWESTERN LANDS IN 8TH AT BOWLING GREEN REGIONAL
Northwestern completed play at the 2012 NCAA Bowling Green Regional Saturday, carding a 6-over 294 to conclude the competition in eighth place, one spot above its No. 9 seed but shy of the top-5 finish necessary to advance to the NCAA National Championships. Read full recap at NUSports.com.