Feb. 21, 2003
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WAHIAWA, Hawaii - Senior Lars Johansson earned the third individual title of his collegiate career with a final-round 68 that gave him a one-shot victory at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate at Leleihua Golf Course in Wahiawa, Hawaii. Johansson, who wins his first title since back-to-back victories in the spring of his Mountain West Conference Golfer of the Year season in 2000-01, came from three shots down after 36 holes. The Karlskrona, Sweden native's 8-under total of 208 gives the Aztecs the individual medalist in the event for the second straight year after John Lieber won it in 2002.
San Diego State could not repeat its team title from a year ago, as the Aztecs finished in a tie for second place with New Mexico at 850, seven strokes behind team champion and Golfweek/Sagarin No. 8 Arizona (843, -21). The Aztecs shot a 4-under final round of 284 but could catch up to the Wildcats' 280, the low round of the day. Despite the tie with New Mexico, SDSU finished ahead of the other three MWC teams competing in the event - including No. 2 UNLV - and defeated three higher-ranked squads en route to its second-best finish of the season.
Johansson played in just two events during the fall and posted a 72.5 stroke average. But he finished in the top five in team qualifying for the event and took advantage of the opportunity by finishing 66-68 after a first-round 74 to claim the best score of his last 18 collegiate events.
Lieber made yet another great showing in this event by shooting a second straight 69 to share fourth place at 210. As a first-time regular in the Aztec lineup as a sophomore, Lieber finished 20th at the 2001 Burns and then won it as a junior last season. His 6-under total this time was his first sub-par score of the season.
Junior Mark Warman (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente HS), the first-round leader after a 67, finished 74-73 but gave the Aztecs three individuals in the top 20 with 2-under 214 that shared 20th place. Senior John Lepak (La Habra Heights, Calif./Los Altos HS) claimed a share of 38th place at 2-over 218 and sophomore Aaron Choi (San Diego, Calif./Torrey Pines HS) finished 72nd at 225.
The Aztecs' next event is USC's Cleveland Golf Classic, held March 3-4 in Westlake Village, Calif.
Final scores with relation to par Feb. 21at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate, playedat the par-72, 6,917-yard Leilehua Golf Coursein Wahiawa, Hawaii
1. Arizona 280-283-280-843 (-21)2. San Diego State 284-282-284-850 (-14) New Mexico 281-286-283-850 (-14)4. UNLV 288-279-284-851 (-13)5. SMU 281-285-287-853 (-11)6. Auburn 287-287-283-857 (-7)7. Denver 287-290-283-860 (-4)8. BYU 289-286-286-861 (-3)9. California 286-288-289-863 (-1)10. Utah 287-286-291-864 (E)11. Hawai'i 296-284-288-868 (+4)12. UC Santa Barbara 293-290-295-878 (+14)13. Nagoya 292-295-295-882 (+18) Hawai'i-Hilo 296-299-287-882 (+18)15. UTEP 292-294-299-885 (+21)16. San Francisco 297-298-295-890 (+26)17. San Jose State 299-301-295-895 (+31)18. Pacific 296-310-297-903 (+39)19. Hawaii White 308-312-311-931 (+67)
Top Five Individuals1. Lars Johansson, SDSU 74-66-68-208 (-8)2. Chris Nallen, Arizona 72-68-69-209 (-9) Travis Whisman, UNLV 69-68-68-209 (-7)4. John Lieber, SDSU 72-69-69-210 (-6) Shawn Wills, Denver 70-75-65-210 (-6) Peter Tomasulo, Cal 68-71-71-210 (-6) Barrett Jarosch, Denver 73-67-68-210 (-6)
San Diego State Individuals 1. Lars Johansson 74-66-68-208 (-8)T-4. John Lieber 72-69-69-210 (-6)T-20. Mark Warman 67-74-73-214 (-2)T-38. John Lepak 71-73-74-218 (+2)T-72. Aaron Choi 74-74-77-225 (+9)