Central Oregon hardly seems like a natural for NCAA Division II golf.

After all, the only D-II school in the state, Western Oregon University in Monmouth, does not even field a golf team.

Yet some of D-II’s best golf programs — including five of the past six national championship winners and runners-up — are scheduled to tee off today at Sunriver Resort’s Crosswater Club for the two-day, 54-hole Golfweek Division II Men’s Fall Invitational.

Why would Sunriver be interested in such an event?

Josh Willis, Crosswater’s club manager, says the direct benefits to the resort are modest, but “At the end of the day the No. 1 most important thing is that we want to maintain a relationship with the four major (golf) industry players: the PGA of America, the USGA, the NCAA and the AJGA (American Junior Golf Association).”

The Fall Invitational is part of Golfweek magazine’s Collegiate Series of tournaments.

Fifteen teams from as far away as Florida — including Golfweek’s top-ranked Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, and fourth-ranked Lynn University, of Boca Raton — will be competing in Central Oregon.

The teams’ combined rosters include all of five golfers from Oregon, and not one from Central Oregon. But this will be the second consecutive year in which Crosswater, which has hosted men’s and women’s NCAA Division I national golf championships in years past, will host this tournament.

For its part, the magazine considers its business relationship and the quality of the venue when deciding on a host, said Lance Ringler, Golfweek’s Collegiate Series director. And Golfweek found a willing partner in Sunriver.

“We try to take the events to properties that do business with us,” Ringler said. “And (Sunriver was) more than willing and excited to host this Division II event. Last year was our first year and went over really, really well. The teams loved it, so we’re doing it again.”

Despite the limited benefits in doing so, Sunriver would consider hosting the event again in the future, Willis said.

According to Willis, Sunriver gets three things from hosting the D-II championship: some Golfweek exposure, a continued relationship with NCAA golf, and a small pickup of room nights and ancillary spending at the resort from the coaching staffs of 15 college teams and 75 competitors.

And that is enough for Sunriver.

“We love having it,” Willis says. “It’s perfect.”

Golfweek Division II Men’s Fall Invitational

Where: Crosswater Club at Sunriver Resort

What: NCAA Division II golf tournament

Format: 54-hole stroke play

Schedule: First round begins today at 9 a.m., immediately followed by the second round. Final round begins Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

Teams: Cal State Monterey Bay (Seaside, Calif.), Cal State Stanislaus (Turlock, Calif.), Chico State (Calif.), Colorado-Colarado Springs (Colorado Springs), Colorado School of Mines (Golden, Colo.), Dallas (Texas) Baptist, Hawaii-Hilo (Hilo, Hawaii), Lynn Univ. (Boca Raton, Fla.), Nova Southeastern (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Saint Martin’s (Lacey, Wash.), Simon Fraser (Burnaby, British Columbia), Sonoma State (Rohnert Park, Calif.), Southwestern Oklahoma State (Weatherford, Okla.), Washburn Univ. (Topeka, Kan.), Western Washington (Bellingham, Wash.)

Admission: Free for spectators

For more information: Golfweek.com