UC Irvine shot a 54-hole total of 16-under par 836 to finish third at the East Regional in Chattanooga, Tenn. and earn a berth in the NCAA Finals. The Anteaters, ranked 46th in the country, bettered 14 other schools who were ranked higher nationally.

The Anteaters were one of 10 schools from the East Regional to move on to the NCAA Championship May 28-31 on The Kampen Course at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Ind. Georgia, the nation's top ranked team, fired a 41-under 811 to win the tournament. Augusta State shot 20-under 832 to come in second.

Junior Tim Cha produced Saturday's low score among the 141-player field, carding a 7-under par 64 on the Council Fire Golf Club layout. His round included nine birdies and two bogeys. After posting 75 and 72 during the first two rounds, Cha finished at 2-under 211 and in a tie for 29th place.

The top Anteater performer was junior Sean Shahi, who came in fourth overall with a 9-under par 204. Shahi followed a blistering round of 65 on Friday with a 69 today, giving him three under par rounds for the tournament.

Sophomore John Chin also played solidly as his rounds of 67, 69 and 72 gave him a 5-under 208 and tied him for 14th place.

Senior Kenny Kim posted a 73 on Saturday and placed 38th with an even par score of 213. Freshman Max Greil shot 82 and came in 135th at 235.

UCI's top four scorers carded rounds of par or better eight times in 12 rounds overall.

This is UCI's third trip to the NCAA Finals, having made previous appearances in 2001 and 1992. The Anteaters also had a third place finish at the West Regional in 2001.