March 21, 2002
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Aztecs Fly North For Nike/Duck Invitational
Coming off its best 54-hole outing of the spring, the San Diego State women's golf team travels to the Beaver State for the Nike/Duck Invitational. The tournament is just the second three-round competition in a row for the Aztecs, who have had to go 54 holes in just 3-of-6 events this season. The Nike/Duck Invitational gets underway with 36 holes on Thursday, March 28th, with the final 18 holes scheduled for Friday, March 29th. Both days of competition will tee off with 8 a.m. shotgun starts.
SDSU Scorecard
San Diego State's lineup for the Nike/Duck Invitational will feature two seniors, a junior and a pair of sophomores. All five players have seen action this season, however, junior Claire Riley will be making her spring debut.
Pos. Name Yr. Hometown1. Heather Rollo Sr. Vancouver, Wash.2. Shayna Miyajima So. Wailuku, Hawaii3. Sandy Kim So. West Linn, Ore.4. Asa Jankler Sr. Stockholm, Sweden5. Claire Riley Jr. San Diego, Calif.
The Field
In addition to San Diego State, the 15-team field features five schools ranked in this week's Golfweek Top-50. No. 17 Washington is the highest ranked team competing with No. 39 Idaho, No. 40 San Jose State, No. 42 San Francisco and No. 47 Minnesota also vying for this year's title. Boise State, BYU, Colorado, Colorado State, Montana State, Nevada, Oregon, Oregon State, and Washington State round out the field.
Aztecs Against The Field
San Diego State brings a 52-40-1 overall record into the tournament but will face a stiff challenge from the competition in Oregon. The Aztecs have faced 11 of the other 14 teams scheduled to play in the Nike/Duck Invitational, posting a 13-12 mark. However, SDSU is a combined 0-8 against the ranked teams competing.
Back Spin: Aztecs Sixth At Bruin Classic
Sophomore Sandy Kim notched her second top-10 finish of the spring as San Diego State carded a season-low three-round total of 915 to take sixth at the Pioneer Electronics Bruin Classic last week. The Aztecs also picked up their first win over a top 20 team this season, finishing four strokes ahead of 16th-ranked California. In addition to Kim's sixth, the Aztecs had two other individuals finish among the top thirty as seniors Heather Rollo and Asa Jankler placed 22nd and 26th, respectively. No. 20 Pepperdine, the only club to break 300 during all three rounds, captured the team title for the second straight year with a final score of 12-over par 876.
Kim Heating Up
Sophomore Sandy Kim posted her second top-5 finish of the spring and lowered her season stroke average to 76.9 with her six-place finish at last week's Bruin Classic. Kim also placed in the top-10 at the Lady Aztec Spring Invitational, finishing fourth. SDSU's stroke average leader, has averaged 76.1 over seven spring rounds, shooting 75 or better four times. Overall the sophomore has paced the Aztecs on the individual leaderboard three times this season.
Watch For Falling Stroke Averages
Three Aztecs, Sandy Kim, Asa Jankler and Shayna Miyajima, have all turned in improved performances and the proof is in the numbers. Kim's progress has been the most dramatic as the sophomore has shaved a full two strokes off her freshman averag, dropping from 78.9 to 76.9. Miyajima has also been better, shooting 78.7 this year after carding a 80.6 average as a frosh. Jankler, who has played in just three events, has sliced over a half a stroke off of her 2000-01 average of 77.9.
Aztec Chip Shots
* Heather Rollo or Sandy Kim have paced the Aztecs on the leaderboard in 5-of-6 tournaments this season.
* Kim leads the Aztecs in top-20 finishes with three.
* San Diego State has finished in the top 10 of all six tournaments thus far in 2001-02, including a pair of top-5 placings.
* The Aztecs enter the week ranked No. 63 nationally by Golfweek and No. 18 in the West Region.
Aztec Coaching Staff
San Diego State will be led by head coach Neale Stoner and assistant coach Felicia Brown in 2001-2002 following the retirement of long-time head coach Diana Falar. Stoner coached the Aztec men from 1993-2000, leading the Aztecs to four NCAA regionals and a national championship appearance. Brown, who played at the University of Arizona and later professionally on the Players West Golf Tour, is in her first season at SDSU.
2001-02 Stroke Averages Avg. RdsSandy Kim 76.9 15Asa Jankler 77.3 8Shayna Miyajima 78.7 15Heather Rollo 78.4 15Brittany Tulao 79.5 2Frieda Englund 81.6 8Claire Riley 81.0 5Brooke Marshall 82.3 3Jennifer Hoene 83.8 5Annagret Horsch 86.0 2