MOREHEAD, Ky. – No complaints from the Morehead State men's golf camp regarding NCAA Tournament assignments.

The Eagles will be represented by junior Nick Wilkins, who earned an automatic berth by winning the Ohio Valley Conference Championship in dramatic fashion.

Wilkins will play in the Columbus region, a 54-hole event on Ohio State's Scarlet course. In all, there are 81 teams and 45 individuals playing in six regions, May 14-16. 30 teams and six individuals will advance from regions to the NCAA Championships, May 28-30 at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla.

Columbus happens to be the region in closest proximity to Morehead.

"We like the geography," MSU head coach Matthew Martin said. "And I've heard all positives about that golf course. We know it's very difficult, but I think that plays into Nick's hands. Because he will be able to grind out pars with anyone. It sounds like that's what it's going to take."

Wilkins showed in the OVC Tournament, where he shot even-par 216, that he can play under pressure.

In a 3-hole playoff for medalist honors and the automatic NCAA berth, he defeated Belmont's Jack Uselton by 2 strokes.

Wilkins reached the playoff by hitting what he describes as "the best shot I've ever hit" on No. 17, holing in from 107 yards for an eagle.

"It was actually kind of a punch gap-wedge," Wilkins said. "It was a little into the wind, so just tried to keep it kind of low and land it past the flag and just let it spin backwards towards the hole. Honestly, as soon as I hit it, (I) knew it was going to be a tap-in. And then we just started seeing it roll back and, all of a sudden, it dropped in. We all kind of went crazy, so that was a really cool moment."

Wilkins, out of Western Hills High School in Frankfort, Ky., said he knew all day that he was at or near the top of the leader board. What surprised him was how he never became nervous. He says he had never been so cool under the gun. That calm continued throughout the playoff.

"At that point, our team was unfortunately out of it," Martin said. "And it's win or go home. And he was phenomenal. He was phenomenal all day, but he even turned it up a notch during that playoff. … He was going to do whatever it took to win."

Now, Wilkins thinks he's ready for an even more pressure-packed tournament.

Like Martin, Wilkins thinks the Scarlet course suits his game.

"I've heard a lot of good things about the course," he said. "Actually, the guy that kind of mentored me when I was growing up (Kirk Schooley, pro at Juniper Hills Golf Course in Frankfort) played for Ball State, so they played in a lot of tournaments there. And I think he did pretty well there. He was saying how good a course it is, so (I'm) really excited."

In this case, "good course" translates to "tough course," which plays into Wilkins' hands.

"I think it's an Alister MacKenzie design, so old school; kind of country club," Wilkins said. "Just, hopefully, really fast, sloped greens and tree-lined fairways. Just like a good, hard test of golf, which is what we wanted. I think I play better on a golf course where a score like even par is going to be better as compared to a course where you're going to have to shoot 5-to-6-under to advance. So I think I do better on tougher golf courses."

Wilkins learned of his regional placement during a Selection Show party Wednesday night at Eagle Trace Golf Club. Joined by his teammates, Martin, course members, athletic department representatives and other friends, he tried to soak in the moment while seeing his name posted on The Golf Channel.

"It's not every day that you get to say you had the opportunity to play in an NCAA Tournament," he said. "That's really special. And then to be able to share it with my teammates, too. I've told them more than once that that's going to be all of us next year. So it's cool to be able to say that 'hey, we've got the chance to do this as a team next year.' Which, I think, we're very capable of doing."

Wilkins has made steady progress during his time as an Eagle.

As a freshman, he compiled a 76.8 stroke average and had a season-low round of 70.

As a sophomore, he posted a 76.4 average and twice shot 71.

This year, he was third on the team (behind Cooper Collins and Blake Cartwright) with a 74.68 average, three times shooting a 69. In addition to the OVC Championship, Wilkins also won the NKU Fall Classic on Sept. 25.

He likes where his game is now and will simply try to stay sharp leading into regional play.

"I putted pretty well at conference," Wilkins said. "Going into a tournament like this, I think I'm going to have to be putting really well to have a chance. I've been hitting it really well the last few weeks, too. So not really trying to improve that, but just to sharpen that up and make sure that every part of my game is kind of in the best place it can be going into the week."

Not that any added motivation is needed at Columbus, but Wilkins will be on the course with the No. 1 team in the nation – Oklahoma State.

"When we played the (Missouri Tiger Invitational on April 9-10), we got paired with Missouri, a good Power Five team," Wilkins said. "I got to play with one of the best players in the field. And, honestly, it kind of revved me up even more, just to go out and prove that I can compete with those Power Five players."

Martin anticipates that Wilkins will be ready for region play, so words of advice will be simple.

"He's going to work his tail off to prepare for it," Martin said. "Once that moment comes, go out and enjoy it and just try to do his very best on each shot.

"Ultimately, he's got to stay in the moment and enjoy the fruit that he has earned with his OVC Championship. … I already told him this. He is very capable of earning the one spot that is available to individuals. That's why we're going up there, and that's our intention – to advance on to the next stage."