Oct. 2, 2001
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Teeing Off: Busy Bodies
Coming of a sixth-place finish against one of the season's most competitive fields at last week's William H. Tucker Intercollegiate, the 13th-ranked (Golfweek) San Diego State men's golf team enters what is its busiest stretch of the season as the Aztecs play two tournament in five days. The action gets under way Oct. 5-6 when SDSU travels to California's Central Valley for the 39th annual Fresno Lexus Golf Classic. The squad will pile back in the vans Sunday for a drive down Highway 99 to Somis, Calif., for a practice round at the Saticoy Country Club, site of the Club Glove Intercollegiate hosted by Pepperdine, Oct. 8-9.
Fresno (Classic) Facts
The two-day, 54-hole event is being hosted by Fresno State University at the par 72, 6,083-yard Sunnyside Country Club. The tournament opens with two rounds on Friday, Oct. 5, followed by the third and final round on Saturday, Oct. 6.
Aztecs vs. the Fresno Field
San Diego State has already faced six of the other 15 teams in this year's Fresno Lexus Golf Classic Field (Arizona, Colorado State, Hawai'i, UNC Greensboro, UTEP and Utah). The Aztec own a 5-1 record versus those teams through the season's first two tournaments with Arizona the only squad to have gotten the best of SDSU.
Fresno Flashback
Lars Johansson, John Lepak and Brian Miller all finished in the top 10 as the Aztecs fired a combined 4-under par 860 to finish the 2000 Fresno Lexus Golf Classic in second place. Johansson, who carded a three-round total of 3-under 213, was the Aztecs' highest finisher in fourth. Lepak and Miller place eighth and 10th, respectively. John Lieber was the only other Aztec to place in the top 20, finishing up in 19th. Stanford (13-under 851) captured the team title and also had the individual medalist as Phillip Rowe shot 8-under par 208 to take the top spot.
Lars, Lepak On The Shelf For Fresno
Two of San Diego State's top golfers, Lars Johansson and John Lepak won't be making the trip to Fresno. Johansson, who finished fourth at last season's event, will miss the tournament due to an academic conflict. Lepak is redshirting the 2001-02 campaign due to an injury.
On Deck: The Club Glove Intercollegiate
San Diego State wraps up its busy weekend at the Club Glove Intercollegiate, hosted by Pepperdine. The 54-hole event will be held at the Saticoy Country Club (Par 72, 6,883 yards) in Somis, Calif. In addition to SDSU and Pepperdine, San Diego State, Alabama-Birmingham, California, Colorado State, Fresno State, Long Beach State, Oregon, Oregon State, San Jose State, Southeast Louisiana, UCSB.
Last Time Out: Recapping The Tucker
San Diego State shot a combined 12-over par total of 876 to take sixth in a power-packed field at last week's William H. Tucker Intercollegiate in Albuquerque, N.M. Lars Johansson shot 71-71 during the opening two rounds and entered the final round in fourth place before sucumbing to the flu and withdrawing from the event. Brandon Kearney was the Aztecs' top finisher in 20th place at 4-over. John Lieber and Mark Warman tied for 29th at 6-over.
Aztec Chip Shots
* The San Diego State men's golf team moved up from 23rd to 13th in the latest Golfweek collegiate golf rankings. * SDSU has competed in two tournaments this fall, placing second at the Mid Pines Intercollegiate in Southern Pines, N.C., and sixth in the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate in Albuquerque, N.M. * The Aztecs have a combined team stroke average of 72.3. * The Aztecs are a combined 25-6 (.806) through the first two tournaments of the season.
No Divots Here
Three San Diego State golfers enter this week's competiton with sub-72 stroke avarages. In fact, none of SDSU's six golfers to compete this season are averaging above 75. John Lieber heads the list with a team-best 71.5 average. Hot on his heels are Mark Warman (71.7), Lars Johansson (71.8) and Gilberto Rodriguez (72.3). Lieber also leads the squad in rounds of par or better, shooting 72 or lower in 4-of-6 rounds.
Head Coach Dale Walker
San Diego State enters its second season under the direction of head coach Dale Walker. He guided the Aztecs to a top-25 ranking and a 12th-place finish at the 2001 NCAA West Regional in his first year at the helm. A 1980 graduate of SDSU, Walker was a standout performer for the Aztecs from 1975-79, competing in every event.
Fall 2001 Stroke Averages Avg./RdsJohn Lieber 71.5/6Mark Warman 71.7/6Lars Johansson 71.8/5Gilberto Rodriguez 72.3/3Brandon Kearney 73.2/6Charlie Smith 74.7/3Chris Galeski n/aScott Henderson n/aJohn Lepak inj.Linus Nilsson n/aAndrew Scott n/aTsubasa Tsuji n/a