The University of La Verne golf team is set to begin action at the NCAA Division III Championships, held Tuesday through Friday at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin, Florida.

La Verne is among 41 schools competing at this week's championships.  The top 15 squads after the first two rounds will advance to compete Thursday and Friday.  Last season, the Leopard squad placed 14th overall at the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

The Leopards earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament by virtue of claiming the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crown, its seventh consecutive league title.  The Leos head a contingent of four SCIAC schools participating at this week's tournament.

The five-player Leopard lineup includes senior Derek Zachman, juniors Keven Holliday and Paul Gomez and sophomores Kelby Scharmann and Trent Twamley.  Both Zachman and Twamley are returning All-Americans after finishing in the Top 25 individually at last season's championships.  Zachman placed in a tie for seventh while Twamley finished 22nd overall.

The trio of Zachman, Holliday and Scharmann each earned First Team All-SCIAC honors this season with Gomez garnering a Second Team selection.

La Verne enters tournament play ranked No. 7 in the latest Golf World/Nike Golf Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll.