May 1, 2002
SUNRIVER, Ore. - The 25th-ranked San Diego State men's golf team finally caught fire at the 2002 Mountain West Conference Men's Golf Championship, shooting a tournament-low 4-under-par 284 Wednesday on the Sunriver Resort's Crosswater Course to finish in fourth place at 10-over 874.
"I'm excited about the way we played today and the heart the team showed," said SDSU head coach Dale Walker. "We played with intensity for the first time in this tournament and the result speaks to what this team is capable of. Hopefully we'll take this momentum and carry it into regionals."
Junior John Lieber, the 2002 MWC Golfer of the Year as selected by the league's coaches Wednesday, was one of three Aztecs to shoot par or better over the final 18 holes and led the way with a final-round of 3-under 69. Senior Scott Henderson chipped in with a 2-under 70 and classmate Brandon Kearney added an even-par 72, as the Aztecs made up six strokes on tournament leader UNLV over the final round in a torrid attempt to catch the Rebels.
However, it proved to be too much ground to overcome as UNLV, which led wire-to-wire, shot a combined 2-over 290 during the final round to claim its second Mountain West men's golf title with a three-round total of 3-over 867. New Mexico finished two strokes back at 5-over 896 to place second with Brigham Young taking third at 9-over 873.
Sophomore Mark Warman, a 2002 all-Mountain West Conference first-team selection and the tournament leader through the opening 36 holes, slipped to second overall with a final round 3-over 75. Colorado State's Martin Laird used a 2-under 70 to collect conference medalist honors with a final score of 212.
San Diego State, winners of three spring tournaments and ranked in the top 25 for much of the season, is expected to receive its fourth-straight NCAA Regional bid on Monday, May 6th, when then Regional Advisory Committee announces the parings for this year's three regional tournaments.
Men's College Golf
2002 Mountain West Conference
Men's Golf Championships - Final Results
Sunriver Resort Crosswater Golf Course
Sunriver, Ore.
Par: 72; Yardage: 7,188
Final Team Results
1. 867-UNLV. 2. 869-New Mexico. 3. 873-Brigham Young. 4. 874-San Diego State. T5. 879-Wyoming, Colorado State. 7. 881-Air Force. 8. 885-Utah.
Top-5 Individuals
1. 212-Martin Laird (CSU). T2. 215-Mark Warman (SDSU), J.C. Deacon (UNLV). 4. 216-Devin Heid (BYU). 5. 217-Ryan Moore (UNLV).
Other SDSU Individuals
T17. 221-Brandon Kearney. T20. 222-John Lieber. T30. 224-Lars Johansson. T33. 225-Scott Henderson.