Sept. 16, 2002
SAN DIEGO - After a fourth-place finish in the season's opening event, the San Diego State men's golf team experiences a three-week break from competition before returning to action for the Oct. 7-8 Nevada Wolfpack Invitational in Reno, Nev.
Aztecs Claim Fourth At Tucker
- A 3-over-par final round propelled the San Diego State men's golf team to a fourth-place finish in their season-opening event, the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate. SDSU passed Texas Tech and Golf World's preseason No. 21-ranked team, Oklahoma, by shooting a final-round 291 to leave the Aztecs at 11-over 875, 11 shots behind tournament host and team champion New Mexico. SDSU finished just two shots behind second-place UNLV, Golf World's preseason No. 16 pick, and one shot behind No. 4 Arizona.
- In their return to the site of the 2002 NCAA West Regional, the Aztecs exacted some revenge on the team that eliminated them in a playoff at last year's regional, Texas Tech. SDSU began the day three shots behind Texas Tech, but finished one shot ahead when the Red Raiders finished with a 7-over 295. And with all eight Mountain West teams competing, the Aztecs finished third among the conference schools.
Lieber and Warman Tie For 14th
- The Aztecs' senior John Lieber and junior Mark Warman finished in a tie for 14th place at the Tucker Intercolle-giate. All-Mountain West performers a season ago, the talented duo shot 2-over totals of 218 while facing a competitive field that included five of Golf World's Top 50 players to watch in 2002-03.
Lepak Returns With 22nd-Place Finish
- In his first tournament appearance since the 2000-01 season, senior John Lepak recorded a 22nd-place result at the Tucker. Lepak, who redshirted last season to recover from a back injury, shot a 4-over total of 218 while competing as an individual.
Aztecs Ranked No. 26 In Preseason Picks
- SDSU was tabbed 26th in Golfweek writer Ron Balicki's preseason Top 30 picks. SDSU, which finished 25th in Golfweek's final 2001-02 rankings, was second among Mountain West teams behind No. 18 UNLV.
Meet The Aztecs
- The 2002-03 edition of the San Diego State men's golf team has the looks of a squad whose time has finally come. All the pieces seem to be in place this season to eclipse the success of a year ago, when the Aztecs finished in Golfweek's final Top 25 rankings and came within a single shot and playoff of advancing to the NCAA Championship.
- The Aztec roster boasts the past two MWC Golfer of the Year selections - 2002 pick John Lieber and 2001 honoree Lars Johansson. In addition, the Aztecs feature 2002 NCAA Championship individual qualifier Mark Warman and former Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and conference first-team selection at Oregon State in 1999, John Lepak, who is coming off a redshirt season to recover from a back injury.
- Adding to that talented core are seniors Brian Miller, who returns from a redshirt season a year ago but who had five top-20 finishes in 2000-01; Chris Galeski, who averaged 73.6 over 12 rounds in 2001-02; and Charlie Smith, who in three fall 2001 events averaged 73.9. Junior Gilberto Rodriguez and redshirt freshman Andrew Scott were impressive during team qualifying and cracked the team's initial lineup, while redshirt sophomore Aaron Choi and junior Linus Nilsson add talented depth to the roster.
- The Aztecs also landed prize recruit Chris Cole from Wales, while local products Cory Segall (La Jolla HS) and Kyle Shelly (Torrey Pines HS) as well as talented sophomore and San Jose State transfer Jeff Hansen will likely redshirt in their first seasons in the SDSU program.
Last Year By The Numbers
- According to Golfstat's 2001-02 Division I team rankings, San Diego State finished second nationally in par 5 scoring with a 4.78 average and eighth in par 3 scoring with a 3.17 average. The Aztecs finished as Golfstat's 28th-ranked team with a head-to-head record of 257-26.
- The Aztecs finished 25th in Golfweek's final rankings with a rating of 72.08. Against the nation's 73-ranked schedule, the Aztecs finished third in District 7 and were 9-17-0 against Golfweek's Top 25, 27-33-1 vs. the Top 50, 90-40-1 against the Top 100 and 155-40-1 overall.
Head Coach Dale Walker
- Head coach Dale Walker is in his third season at the helm of th SDSU golf program. A standout performer for the Aztecs from 1975-79, he has guided the Aztecs to seven tournament titles since taking over as head coach. Walker is assisted by Tim Mickelson, a 1999 Oregon State graduate who also played for perennial powerhouse Arizona State and spent time playing on professional tours.