GODFREY, Ill. - After three rounds and four playoff holes against a competitor from Southwestern Illinois College, Rend Lake College sophomore Ryan Keller of Nashville parred the fifth playoff hole today at Lockhaven Golf Course to become the final national qualifier from the NJCAA Region 24 Championship Tournament.

Keller will join teammates David Griffin (Effingham) and Jared Harp (Benton) on a plane to  Scottsboro, Ala., and the 2009 NJCAA Men's Golf Championships, May 19-22.  All three earned All-Region honors at Lockhaven and qualified for the national tournament.
    Griffin shot 73-71-73-217 for third place and Harp shot 75-76-77-228, securing his ticket via a first-hole birdie in a three-way playoff for 10th place against Keller and the SWIC opponent. Keller was deadlocked with the SWIC player through four playoff holes yesterday when it was called on account of darkness. It only took one hole today to decide the final DII national qualifier from Region 24.
    As a team, RLC made Region 24 history with a playoff against Parkland College for second place. The Warriors were unable to secure the runner-up spot, however, as they lost on the second hole of the playoff to the Cobras, which moves on,  as does tournament champion John A. Logan College.
    For all things athletic at RLC, visit online at www.rlc.edu/warriors.