March 28, 2003

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara is set to host the Bite/Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Tournament at Sandpiper Golf Course in Santa Barbara, CA on Monday and Tuesday, March 31 and April 1. The tournament will be 54 holes, 36 on the first day and 18 on day two.

The Bite/Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Tournament is in its 29th year, and is making its return appearance at Sandpiper. The last three Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Tournaments were held at La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc. The 2001 event was canceled due to rain.

"Sandpiper Golf Course is not only a great golf course," Lass began, "but it is a beautiful setting, and should be in great shape for the tournament. In addition, we have an outstanding field and if the weather will cooperate this year, I expect to see a very exciting final day."

The field is an outstanding one. Of the 21 teams in the tournament, seven are currently ranked in the nation's Division I top-100. Cal (No. 31), UC Irvine (36th), Colorado State (No. 38) and Fresno State (No. 39) lead the field. They are joined by 46th-ranked Denver, 49th-ranked Texas-El Paso, 85th-ranked UC Riverside and 93rd-ranked San Jose State. In addition to the top-100 teams, the field will be comprised of the host Gauchos, New Mexico State, San Francisco, Utah State, Pacific, Long Beach State, Hawaii, Wyoming, Santa Clara, San Diego, Cal State Northridge, St. Mary's and Cal Poly.

Last year's team 19-team tournament was won by San Diego State, which posted a 12-shot victory over Fresno State. The individual champion was Pacific's Jason Higton who shot a 212.

The 21-team field will play a practice round on Sunday, March 30. The 36 holes on Monday, March 31 will have a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start. The final 18 holes on Tuesday, April 1, will begin at 6:45 a.m. From the championship tees, Sandpiper is a long 7,068-yard, par 72 course with a slope rating of 74.5.

Past individual champions of the event include Craig Stadler (1973), Scott Simpson (1977) and Duffy Waldorf (1985).