RUSTON – Louisiana Tech's Niilo Maki-Petaja was selected for the regional round of the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships as an at-large individual, announced Wednesday on the NCAA Selection Show.
 
Maki-Petaja, who is currently ranked No. 215 in the country, will head to Tallahassee, Florida where he will compete among 14 teams and five individuals at the Seminole Legacy Golf Club hosted by Florida State University on May 12-14.  He was selected as the No. 4 seed among the individuals.
 
This marks the second straight season the sophomore has earned an at-large berth.  Maki-Petaja competed in the Baton Rouge Regional last season, tying for 27th.  It is also the fourth consecutive season that LA Tech has had a golfer receive a bid to compete at the NCAA Regionals.
 
The Finland native recorded seven top-20 finishes during the 2024-25 season, including three in the top 10.  His best individual placing was a second-place finish at the GMAC Invitational after shooting 14 under, which tied the 54-hole program record.
 
In his last round at the Conference USA Championship, Maki-Petaja registered his 22nd round at or under par, setting a new single-season program record.  He currently has a stroke average of 71.45.
 
Six 54-hole regional tournaments will be conducted.  The top five teams and the low individual not on those teams from each regional will advance to the finals May 23-28 at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.
 
TEAMS (in order of seeding)
Ole Miss
Florida State
San Diego State
Louisville
Northwestern
Notre Dame
New Mexico
Southern California
Michigan State
Furman
Augusta
Davidson
Florida A&M
 
INDIVIDUALS (in order of seeding)
Malan Potgieter (UL-Lafayette)
NaShawn Tyson (Florida Atlantic)
Hugo Thyr (South Alabama)
Niilo Maki-Petaja (Louisiana Tech)
Gaspar Glaudas (Stetson)
 
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