CSU Bakersfield to join Men's Golf in America Sky

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- California State University Bakersfield has joined the America Sky Men's Golf Conference and will begin play immediately with the 2011-12 spring season, it was announced Wednesday by conference commissioner Ed Grom.

"The institutions of the America Sky welcome California State University Bakersfield into the conference," Grom said in a conference release. "CSU Bakersfield is a new [NCAA] Division I program, like many of those in the America Sky, and it knows how important is has been to compete for championships."

The Roadrunners will join this spring Binghamton, Chicago State, Hartford, Houston Baptist, Northern Colorado, North Dakota, Sacramento State, Seattle, Texas-Pan American, Utah Valley and Weber State as the teams vying for the 2012 America Sky Championship.

The 2012 America Sky Men's Golf Conference Championship will be held May 1 and 2, 2012, at Lake of Isles golf club in North Stonington, Conn.

"We're happy for our men's golf program and encouraged by the fact that CSU Bakersfield continues to attract conference partners that make sense for our teams," CSUB athletic director Jeff Konya said. "The America Sky Conference gives our student-athletes yet another chance to compete for a conference title and for a spot in the NCAA Tournament."

The NCAA voted at its September meeting of the NCAA Division Championships/Sports Management Cabinet to award an NCAA Tournament automatic-qualifying (AQ) spot to the annual winner of the America Sky Men's Golf Conference Championship.

"Now that our conference champion [advances] into NCAA Regional competition, all the schools will be stepping up their programs," Grom said.