Hello from the Atlantic Region, folks.

On behalf of all the Presidents and team members, we are ready for an exciting season in the Atlantic Region, culminating with a trip for one or more of our teams to Nationals at the Barefoot Resort.

Here is a quick preview of what to expect in the Atlantic Region.

With the split into the newly–formed Atlantic Region, six of the seven teams are former members of the NCCGA’s Northeast Region. The seventh and newest team to the region is Youngstown State, the first team from Ohio to join the Atlantic.

Due to the Region split, that leaves last semester’s Northeast runner-up Pittsburgh in the driver's seat headed into the fall semester. Pitt, who did not lose a single player to graduation, is led on the course by sophomore Mark Bondi, who achieved medalist honors at the second Northeast Regional last semester.

West Virginia will be back with Mason Short leading the way. He finished on the all-tournament teams in both Northeast Regionals last spring.

Penn State, led by individual Nationals qualifier John Peterson, returns after earning one point towards Nationals qualifying last semester. The Nittany Lions will have an advantage at Regional #2 at Toftrees, with the golf resort only being minutes from the center of State College.

Duquesne, Robert Morris, Pitt and IUP all have similar advantages in Regional #1, with St. Jude Golf Club only 45 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.

Robert Morris, IUP and Duquesne underperformed somewhat last year but return a lot of talent and certainly could make a run at both of the Regional tournaments.

The wild card of the Region is indeed Youngstown State, a somewhat unknown commodity at this point in the year. New teams certainly can surprise as Pittsburgh did last semester, earning a Nationals bid in only their second semester as a club.