Jan. 14, 2010

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The six Great West Conference institutions that sponsor the sport of men's golf will now compete as members of the America Sky Conference beginning with the upcoming spring season, Great West Conference Commissioner Ed Grom announced today.

The America Sky was originally formed in 2007 with Great West members Texas-Pan American and Utah Valley among its charter members. The America Sky has agreed to accept the remaining Great West men's golf members (Chicago State, Houston Baptist, North Dakota and South Dakota) to join other charter members Binghamton, Hartford, Northern Colorado, Sacramento State and Weber State. The 11-member league has appealed to the NCAA for an automatic qualifier.

"Joining the America Sky will provide an opportunity for our men's golf programs to gain an NCAA automatic bid sooner while at the same time joining several other top men's golf programs from across the country for quality competition," Grom said.

Grom was chosen by the America Sky members to become commissioner of the league, with Great West assistant commissioner Mike Sharpe and director of media relations Jacque Cottrell handling conference office duties for the league. The Great West will continue to sponsor women's golf and every effort will be made for the two leagues to conduct their respective championships at the same location each spring.

The 2010 America Sky Men's Golf Championship and the Great West Women's Golf Championship will be held April 26-27 at Las Lagos Golf Club in Edinburg, Texas.