"You would think there would be separation after 72 holes, but there wasn't," Cotner said.

That is a sign that Cotner has developed a deep, balanced roster.

"I used to read golf publications and newspapers to find players," Cotner added. "Now they send me letters.

"From the success we've had, from what Charlie has done, it's changed. And when the (underclassmen) play in these summer amateur tournaments and others see the Bucknell golf bags, the floodgates will open."

It all started with Waddell winning the individual league title as a sophomore. Bucknell then ended Army's near decade-long reign as team champion in 2006.

Now Waddell has 54 holes left in his college career and it will come against big-time programs with a roster full of players expected to break par every time out.

"When you really look at it, it's just golf," Waddell said. "It's still 18 holes. You still have to hit fairways and greens. It's just a shot here, a shot there that's the difference."

Top five seeds in the West Regional are: Stanford, UCLA, UNLV, USC and East Tennessee State. Bucknell is seeded 26th in the 27-team region. The Bison finished 26th last year.

The top 10 teams advance to the national championships May 30-June 2 at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club Gold Course in Williamsburg, Va.